The President of Uruguay has got involved in the Luis Suarez controversy, as 79-year-old Jose Mujica has launched a scathing attack on soccer’s governing body.
Following Suarez’s four-month ban for biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini in Uruguay’s final Group D game at the 2014 World Cup, many Uruguay fans and public figures have supported Suarez.
[ RELATED: Suarez refuses to admit he bite Chiellini ]
However Mujica’s comments were extremely strong, as Uruguay are now out of the World Cup after being knocked out by Colombia in their round of 16 match on Saturday. La Celeste certainly missed Suarez in that match and Mujica has hit out at FIFA.
Mujica then admitted that Suarez deserved to be banned but stated that “they [FIFA] could have punished him, but not given him this fascist ban.”
It’s safe to say Uruguayans are upset over the way Suarez has been treated but a “fascist ban” ... really? Across world soccer the general consensus is that Suarez could have got a much lengthier ban for his THIRD bite on an opposition player in his career. This strong response from Uruguay’s president (Mujica has been in office since 2010) comes at a time where he is seeking public support.
The next presidential elections in the tiny South American nation take place later this year in October and Suarez’s ban has become huge news in Montevideo and Uruguay’s other cities. Hence Mujica’s strong response.
These comment are all making sense now...