Uruguay To Appeal Suarez FIFA Biting Ban
Uruguay has confirmed they will be appealing the ban handed down to their star striker Luis Suárez, which means it may be heading to the FIFA Appeals Committee — which is chaired by Bermuda’s Larry Mussenden.
Earlier today [June 26] FIFA banned Uruguay’s Luis Suárez from all “football-related activities” for four months for biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini, ruling him out of the rest of the World Cup.
Chiellini was left with visible teeth marks on his left shoulder after his run in with Suarez late in Uruguay’s 1-0 World Cup victory over Italy, a result that saw Uruguay reach the knockout stage and the Italians eliminated.
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee’s official ruling said,”The player Luis Suárez is to be suspended for nine official matches. The first match of this suspension is to be served in the upcoming FIFA World Cup fixture between Colombia and Uruguay on 28 June 2014.”
It’s not the first time the striker has been been banned for biting opponents. In 2013 he was banned for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic, and in 2010 he was banned for biting PSV Eindhoven’s Otman Bakkal.
His repeated incidents of biting players has led to colourful media coverage internationally, with the Italian media calling it the “return of Dracula” saying Suárez is “worse than Tyson”.
The German press called him “football’s vampire”, the Swiss and Dutch called him a “cannibal”, while the Belgians called it “the tooth of God”, a play on the infamous 1986 “hand of god” goal by Diego Maradona.
While there has not yet been an official statement from FIFA on the appeal, FIFA spokeswoman Delia Fischer was quoted previously by the international media as saying any appeal by Uruguay must first go to the FIFA Appeal Committee.
If the appeal is rejected, Suarez and Uruguay could take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Mr. Mussenden has already traveled to Brazil to chair the Appeals Committee until the World Cup is completed. Mr. Mussenden has chaired the FIFA Appeals Committee for several years, including at the last World Cup in South Africa.
Speaking outside the FIFA hotel in Rio de Janeiro, Uruguay FA president Wilmar Valdez told reporters: “We are preparing our appeal now, we have three days to do it.
“It is an excessive decision and there was not enough evidence and I have seen more aggressive incidents recently. It is a severe punishment. I don’t know exactly which arguments they used but it is a tough punishment for Suarez.
“It’s feels like Uruguay has been thrown out of the World Cup. We all know what Suarez means to Uruguay and to football around the world — not having Suarez would be a loss to any team,” Mr. Valdez said.
I dare them to appeal….Uraguay/Suarez will lose….and incur a stiff fine/penalty.
This is not his first offence, this was not an accident, but a deliberate act. It brings the game into disrepute. How many people does he need to bite before he is banned for life? I feel that his punishment should have been greater, especially since this is the World Cup. He is an insult to his country and to the sport.
Suarez is god….so you can go **** itself….you are an insult to earth you ***
Your god “Suarez” is a pathetic little child who bites people. He is an insult to FIFA, Uruguay and the game of football.
Eat my shorts
He is a proven menace and danger to players on the field. He should have been given a 9 months suspension. FIFA themselves have thrown this game into disrepute. as the Italian player stated they are protecting the big names of the game and this action just proves it.
I’m absolutely shocked at what i just read…the punishment is to harsh, hahaha…ok he can play tomorrow BUT his teeth come out today.. DEAL??
I know some will e offended …but guess what…I don’t care…there is no place for this…had he bitten me?…yoh wkuld have had to carry bis body off the field….
Something is not right when a man is on top of his game and does somthing like this. — and has done similar stuff like this before.
Yep’ he is bad for the game and must go – no matter how good he is.
There are those fans who may worship a guy like this but when it comes down to it he just another lunatic waiting
to pounce of sombody because he cannot control the sudden rage that is built in him possibly from childhood problems or an incident
that happened to him.
FIFA get rid of him.