Chiellini calls Suárez ban ‘excessive’

GIORGIO CHIELLINi, the Italian player bitten by Luis Suárez, has called the Uruguayan’s subsequent ban “excessive” and fears it will lead to the player becoming alienated. Fifa has banned Suárez from all “football-related activities” for four months after the clash, ruling the striker out of the rest of the World Cup and the start of the domestic season. The biting incident, the third in which Suárez has been involved in his career, has also led Fifa’s disciplinary committee to prevent the player from entering any football stadium during the ban or from training with either Liverpool or the Uruguay national squad.

Suárez has also been banned for nine competitive international matches, beginning with Uruguay’s last-16 game with Colombia today, and fined £66,000.

“Now inside me there’s no feelings of joy, revenge or anger against Suárez for an incident that happened on the pitch and that’s done. There only remain the anger and the disappointment about the match,” said Chiellini on his personal website. “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.”

Diego Maradona has also spoken in support of Suárez, attacking the “Fifa mafia” and likening the ban to being “handcuffed” and “thrown in Guantánamo”.

The Brazil striker Fred has also criticised the severity of the ban. “I see this punishment as too severe,” he said. “I have talked to some people and most people think it was fair. But in my opinion it wasn’t, because it is a punishment that could end a player’s life. You also have everyone slamming him for his mistake. I think he had to be punished, yes, but I would still like to be seeing Suárez playing in the World Cup in Brazil.” — The Guardian