WHAT A DISGRACE
Suarez faces ban after biting Italian defender Chiellini
LUIS SUAREZ’S reputation lies in tatters this morning after the Liverpool striker bit Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini on the shoulder during Uruguay’s 1-0 World Cup victory in Brazil.
For t he t hird t i me in his chequered career, the 27-year-old has been caught on film sinking his teeth into an opponent.
Previously Suarez has assaulted PSV player Otman Bakkal while playing for Ajax in November 2010 and Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic for Liverpool in April 2013.
FIFA have indicated that they
will look into the matter today after the Mexican match referee failed to spot the incident. The world governing body will no doubt look unkindly on Suarez, given his long history of disciplinary issues and their own statute actually gives them the power to ban any player for as long as two years if they see fit. In all likelihood, Suarez will receive a much shorter retrospective ban that could still end his tournament after yesterday’s victory saw Uruguay advance to the last 16 at Italy’s expense. Immediately after the game, Juventus defender Chiellini said: ‘Suarez is a sneak and he gets away with it because FIFA want their stars to play in the World Cup. ‘I would love to see if they have the courage to do anything against him. ‘The referee saw the bite mark too, but did nothing about it.’ Images of the Italian’s shoulder clearly showed teeth marks after Chiellini pulled down his shirt after the incident. Suarez, though, walked through the interview area smiling after the game and refused to answer questions. Earlier in a bad-tempered game Italian midfielder Claudio Marchisio had been sent off for a stamp at Cristian Rodriguez.
Italian coach Cesare Prandelli resigned after Italy’s exit while his opposite number Oscar Tabarez refused to accept Suarez had done anything wrong. ‘This is all a conspiracy,’ said Tabarez. Uruguay defender Diego Lugano went a step further and said: ‘I didn’t see anything. Did you see it today or did you see what happened in other years? The worst of everything is the attitude of Chiellini. ‘He’s a great player but sportsmen leaving the field, crying and appealing against a rival, it’s not good. As a man he disappointed me totally.’ FIFA vice-president Jim Boyce said last night: ‘FIFA must investigate the incident seriously and take whatever disciplinary action deemed necessary.’