By Andrew Warshaw
August 11 – The international players’ union FIFPro has once again sprung to the defense of Luis Suarez, calling for the Uruguayan striker’s four-month ban for biting – plus nine competitive internationals – at the World Cup to be reduced.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport is to announce in the next few days the outcome of last week’s appeal by Suarez and the Uruguayan FA against the gravity of the ban – and FIFPro says they should cut the punishment.
Suarez had already been “vilified in public” for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini, said the union, adding the sanctions were “a disproportionate response to the offence.”
Suarez has previously been banned for seven games by the Dutch FA for biting whilst playing for Ajax and a 10-match suspension was imposed following a further bite on Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic during his time with Liverpool.
But FIFpro nevertheless argued: “The four-month ban from all football-related activity… is unfair for Suarez as it infringes his right to work at club level,” it said. In the international arena, where the offence was committed, a nine-match ban for Uruguay is also too strong as it effectively equates to a two-year sanction.”
“The educative nature of the sanction mentioned by FIFA in the ruling can be much better achieved by making it partially conditional, including the obligation for Luis Suarez to receive treatment.”
FIFPro added that even Chiellini himself had called for the bans to be reduced. “Many agree the sanctions are excessive. This is an important signal for the CAS panel to consider.”
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