This year’s World Cup has given us great goals, surprising results, and a moment FIFA would rather have not taken place.
Uruguay’s Luis Suarez resorted to a tactic he’s previously used when he bit Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini on the shoulder. While punishment was sure to be handed down, the severity was what everyone was anxiously awaiting.
When the announcement was made, FIFA came down with a heavy hand.
While reactions have been varied, one in particular stands out. Chiellini posted on his website a few words on the incident and his feelings toward Suarez.
“Now inside me there’s no feelings of joy, revenge or anger against Suarez for an incident that happened on the pitch and that’s done. There only remain the anger and the disappointment about the match.
At the moment my only thought is for Luis and his family, because they will face a very difficult period.
I have always considered unequivocal the disciplinary interventions by the competent bodies, but at the same time I believe that the proposed formula is excessive. I sincerely hope that he will be allowed, at least, to stay close to his team mates during the games because such a ban is really alienating for a player.”
Not only does Suarez’s suspension affect games with the national team, but the four-month portion causes it to run into the early portion of the English Premier League schedule, meaning he will be absent from Liverpool’s first nine matches of next season.
Documented history of similar behavior or not, there are more than a few who feel the hand Suarez was dealt is too harsh. And now we can add the victim of his most recent act to the list.
H/T SportsGrid
