By Andrew Warshaw
August 2 – Uruguay striker Luis Suárez has accused British fans of showing no respect after booing his country’s national anthem before last night’s do-or-die Olympic men’s group game in Cardiff.
Suárez (pictured above and below, left), who was banned for eight games in last season’s English Premier League after being accused of racial abuse while playing for Liverpool, was himself booed throughout Uruguay’s London 2012 campaign which ended with yesterday’s 1-0 defeat (scene from match pictured below).
After a disappointing Olympics, Suárez rounded on a minority of fans.
“I can take the abuse,” he said.
“I don’t mind.
“But I think it was a total lack of respect from the crowd to boo when we were trying to sing our anthem.
“I’m hurt because we lost and we are going home.
“We all had a dream and that was to win the gold medal here.”
The booing only happened when Suárez’s face appeared on the big screen, but he says the behaviour was still unacceptable – and claims it only took place because of the danger he posed.
“I think they jeer me and they boo me here because they must be scared of facing a player like me,” he insisted.
“They fear me, but that doesn’t affect me.”
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