June 28 – Villain or victim? Serial offender or just misunderstood? Fit for purpose or needing treatment? Luis Suarez is splitting opinion depending on where you come from. Here is some of the comment.
Claudio Sulser, chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee: Such behaviour cannot be tolerated on any football pitch, and in particular not at a FIFA World Cup when the eyes of millions of people are on the stars on the field. The Disciplinary Committee took into account all the factors of the case and the degree of Mr Suarez’s guilt in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Code. The decision comes into force as soon it is communicated.
Luis Suarez in a post-match interview: These are just things that happen out on the pitch. It was just the two of us inside the area and he bumped into me with his shoulder, and that’s how my eye got like this as well.
There are things that happen on the pitch and you should not make such a big deal out of them.
FIFPro: The fact that Suarez is prohibited from working for a long period must be addressed as it directly infringes his right to work. Also the fact that Liverpool FC is affected needs to be an important issue.
Luis Suarez should receive all the support he needs to deal with any off-field issues he may be experiencing at this time. This means that the focus should be on the rehabilitation and serious treatment of the player. FIFPro believes that treatment must be a part of any sanction.
Uruguayan President Jose Mujica: We didn’t choose him to be a philosopher, or a mechanic, or to have good manners – he’s a great player.
We feel that this is an assault on the poor because this gang will never forgive him because he never went to university.
He isn’t educated, he grew up on the field, and he is a natural rebel and expresses his anger naturally.
There’s no doubt (that worse things have happened at the tournament). We have seen all the games and this is a different punishment. This is the most indignant punishment. Here they add everything together but the boy really shouldn’t be blamed for his reaction.
It’s a match and these things happen and then there’s no need to look into every incident, because if we did that in every game we’d be playing five-a-side.
Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez upon resigning from FIFA’s strategy committee: In the way they sanctioned him, they showed values and standards very different from what I want to have.
Giorgio Chiellini: 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.
At the moment, my only thought is for Luis and his family, because they will face a very difficult period.
888 Poker: Regrettably, following his actions during Uruguay’s World Cup match against Italy on Tuesday, 888poker has decided to terminate its relationship with Luis Suarez with immediate effect.
Maradona: ‘Luisito Estamos Con Vos’ meaning ‘Little Luis we are with you’
“Why? Who is killed? This is football, this is friction – why not send him to Guantanamo?”
Suarez’s grandmother Lila Piriz Da Rosa: Everyone knows what they’ve done to Luis. They wanted him out of the World Cup. Perfect, they did it. They chucked him out of there like a dog. The journalists treated it like it was the only relevant theme. I don’t know where they were from, but they all spoke English. Many times you forget that the scapegoat is a person, who has rights.
Brazilian Ronaldo: Why do you want my opinion on Suarez. I never bit anyone. I know bites hurt. My kids used to bite me.
Former Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish who brought Suarez to the club: It is my belief that when you bring a player to a football club, he becomes your responsibility. You don’t just turn you back on a player because he has done something wrong.
I think you will find that Liverpool will not turn their back on Suarez, whatever the ban FIFA have decided he must serve.
Liverpool chief executive Ian Ayre, chief executive officer: Liverpool Football Club will wait until we have seen and had time to review the FIFA Disciplinary Committee report before making any further comment.
Comments collated by Ben Nicholson