Jaws III goes viral on the internet
Suarez parodied as Jaws, Dracula and Hannibal as jokes go viral
THE Italian defender whose shoulder he sank his teeth into probably still doesn’t see the funny side.
But Luis Suarez’s extraordinary attack on Giorgio Chiellini was yesterday the inspiration for dozens of joke images and videos on the internet.
One mock-up that proved popular around the world had Suarez as Hannibal Lecter, the cannibal criminal from the 1991 film The Silence of the Lambs.
The Uruguay striker was also pictured as Dracula and even as the shark from the Hollywood film Jaws – the theme of a headline employed by the Mail yesterday.
Suarez’s sponsors, who include Adidas, do not see the player’s third biting outrage as a laughing matter however.
The sportswear firm’s executives met in Rio de Janeiro yesterday to discuss the incident. A spokesman said: ‘Adidas is aware of the issue involving Luis Suarez.
Revealed a red bite mark
We await Fifa’s full investigation into this matter and will respond accordingly.’
Adidas took the unusual step of issuing a statement condemning Suarez’s ‘ unacceptable’ actions when he bit Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic during a Premier League game last year.
Poker brand 888, which also has a deal with the player, said it would not tolerate unsporting behaviour and was seriously reviewing its relationship with the star.
Liverpool fans are anxiously awaiting the outcome of the investigation by Fifa. The global governing body has the power to ban Suarez from club football as well as from international games. The Uruguayan, who scored the two goals that effectively ended England’s World Cup hopes, was watched by millions of TV viewers plunging his mouth towards Chiellini’s shoulder on Tuesday night.
The Italian player pulled down his shirt to reveal a red bite mark, but the referee took no action and Suarez was allowed to continue playing. Uruguay then scored to go through to the tournament’s knock- out stages at Italy’s expense.
Suarez’s l awyer yesterday claimed that European football chiefs were trying to have the striker banned. Alejandro Balbi told Uruguayan radio: ‘We don’t have any doubts that this has happened because it’s Suarez and secondly because Italy was eliminated. There’s a lot of pressure from England and Italy.’
The lawyer, who is a board member of Uruguay’s football association, also suggested Suarez was being targeted because he threatened other nations’ chances of winning the World Cup, including those of hosts Brazil. Suarez, a married father of two, was suspended for seven games for biting PSV Eindhoven’s Otman Bakkal on the shoulder while playing for Dutch club Ajax in 2010. He received a tengame ban in the Premiership for biting Ivanovic.
ENGLAND and Italy are responsible for a witchhunt against Luis Suarez, his lawyer claimed last night as FIFA considered disciplinary action for his World Cup ‘bite’.
In an incredible interpretation of the events that unfolded when Suarez clashed with Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini, Alejandro Balbi told Uruguayan radio: ‘We don’t have any doubts that this has happened because it’s Suarez involved, and secondly because Italy have been eliminated. There’s a lot of pressure from England and Italy. There is a possibility
that they ban him, because there are precedents, but we’re convinced that it was an absolutely casual play, because if Chiellini can show a scratch on one shoulder, Suarez can show a bruised and almost closed eye.’ Balbi, who is a Uruguay board member, added: ‘If every player starts showing the injuries he suffers and they open inquiries for them, everything will be way too complicated in the future. ‘You shouldn’t forget that we’re rivals of many and we can be for the hosts (Brazil) in the future. There’s no doubt that Suarez is a stone in the shoe for many.’ As FIFA’s disciplinary chiefs began their investigation into Suarez’s shameful behaviour, it became apparent the Liverpool striker was in danger of losing lucrative sponsorship deals. Suarez is sponsored by adidas and executives from the sportswear manufacturer met in Rio to discuss the latest incident. The official statements from his sponsors were anodyne, but Sportsmail understands the striker could be jettisoned. An adidas spokesperson said: ‘adidas is aware of the issue involving Luis Suarez. We await FIFA’s full investigation into this matter and will respond accordingly.’ Gambling company 888poker have Suarez as a brand ambassador and said: ‘Following recent allegations made against Luis Suarez, we are reviewing our relationship with him. We will not tolerate unsporting behaviour.’ The investigation was ongoing last night, but video evidence appeared to be damning. The independent disciplinary panel, chaired by Swiss lawyer Claudio Sulser, had a range of sanctions available up to a 24-match ban or a twoyear suspension from all football. A worldwide ban would impact on his career at Liverpool, but there is no precedent for such a sanction. It is unclear whether Suarez’s previous bans — 10 games for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic and seven matches for biting PSV Eindhoven’s Otman Bakkal — would be taken into consideration, but the panel do have that power. A FIFA spokeswoman said: ‘They can take in all elements they deem necessary.’ Suarez was not due to appear in person at the disciplinary hearing, but his lawyer and Uruguay FA president Wilmar Valdez will present his defence. There are also reports that they will claim pictures of teeth-marks on Chiellini’s shoulder were digitally altered.