Uruguay on the Defensive as Suarez Criticism Continues
With Diego Godin’s late winner for Uruguay overshadowed by the latest controversy surrounding star striker Luis Suarez, his compatriots are beginning to close ranks around the embattled genius with alleged victim Giorgio Chiellini — and the rest of the scandal loving world — coming down hard on the 27-year old.
“Suarez is a slimy player” the Italian told Sky Sports news following Italy’s 1-0 defeat at the hands of the South Americans where Suarez apparently bit the shoulder of the defender. “We’ll see if they are brave enough to use video evidence against him.” The Liverpool striker is no stranger to controversy with two previous biting incidents, as well as a rash of other offences, already under his belt. Despite his chequered past, his international team-mates aren’t about to see him convicted without a trial.
“The images don’t show anything, it was a tussle” injured Uruguay captain Diego Lugano said of the photo’s which allege to show the bite marks on the Italian’s shoulder. “We saw the photo of Chiellini” he continued. “They are old scars, anyone stupid can realise that, you have to be really stupid not to realise they are old scars.”
Less than conclusive TV replays appear to show Suarez, who has twice been convicted of biting opposition players, of sinking his teeth into the back of the Italian defender as the two battled for the ball. Although Chiellini showed the marks to the referee, they took no action — though there will be an investigation conducted by FIFA after the fact to see if any retrospective punishment is warranted. “The refereeing decisions were embarrassing. These episodes affect the game and FIFA allows them” said the Juventus defender. “We’ll see if they use TV evidence.”
Even if they do, Suarez doesn’t seem to be too worried. “These are just things that happen out on the pitch” he told Uruguay’s Channel 10 before indirectly protesting his innocence. “It was just the two of us inside the area and he bumped into me with his shoulder and that’s how my eye got like this as well.” The striker faces a lengthy ban and will likely miss the remainder of the World Cup should he be found guilty retroactively of violent conduct by FIFA.