MILAN (AP) — Giorgio Chiellini believes Luis Suarez has been harshly punished by FIFA for biting his shoulder during their decisive World Cup match.
Suarez was banned from all football activities and stadiums for four months, suspended from Uruguay’s next nine internationals, and fined.
“Now inside me there are no feelings of joy, revenge or anger against Suarez for an incident, which happened on the pitch and is done,” Chillieni wrote in his blog for Sportlobster. “There only remains 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 unequivocally considered the disciplinary interventions by the competent bodies, but at the same time I believe the proposed formula is excessive. I sincerely hope he will be allowed to stay close to his teammates during the games, because such a ban is really alienating for a player.”
Uruguay’s football federation said it planned to appeal the ban, which leaves it without its star striker and leading goalscorer for next year’s Copa America, and most likely for the start of its qualifying matches for the 2018 World Cup.
Suarez bit Chiellini’s left shoulder during a 1-0 win against Italy in the group stage on Tuesday.
This is the third time Suarez has been banned for biting an opponent, following similar incidents in the Dutch and English leagues. He has also been banned in England for racial abuse.
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