Suarez a 'scapegoat' - Uruguay coach Tabarez

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Suarez a 'scapegoat' - Uruguay coach Tabarez

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez said on Friday that Luis Suarez had been made a "scapegoat" for biting an opponent at the World Cup, lashing out at the "excessive severity" of his four-month ban.

"Many times you forget that the scapegoat is a person, who has rights," said Tabarez, who read out a pre-prepared statement during a press conference ahead of Uruguay's last-16 game against Colombia on Saturday.

"In this specific case of Luis Suarez, despite the faults he may have committed, he has made significant contributions to football from the pitch."

Tabarez, who refused to take questions from journalists, also claimed the punishment was "more focused on the opinions of the media".

Suarez was handed a nine-game international ban and suspended from all football-related activity for four months by FIFA on Thursday after sinking his teeth into the left shoulder of Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini during a Group D game in Natal on Tuesday.

Tabarez was given a round of applause by Uruguayan journalists after reading his statement during the press conference at Rio de Janeiro's Maracana Stadium.

He also announced that he has decided to step down from his position on FIFA's technical study group and strategic committee over the affair.

It is the third time that Suarez has been banned for biting an opponent, after previous incidents with Ajax and his current club, Liverpool.

Uruguay captain Diego Lugano claimed on Wednesday that Suarez had been unfairly targeted by the British media and Tabarez echoed the centre-back's words.

- 'All spoke English' -

"After we saw the images (of the incident), we saw that there was a possibility that the participants in that act -- Giorgio Chiellini, the Italian footballer, and Luis Suarez -- would both be punished," said the 67-year-old.

"But we never thought we would learn what we found out about the details of the decision reached, which was of an excessive severity.

"And a decision which obviously is much more focused on the opinions of the media, who took that as the only topic of the (post-match) press conference.

"I don't know what nationality they were, but they all spoke English."

Tabarez also alleged that Suarez had been the victim of "media attacks" and "harassments", which had "concentrated above all on his background".

He added: "On the basis of these very exaggerated and severe decisions, are we to avoid all excesses, all aggressions?

"I sincerely doubt it, because in this tournament, before and after the Suarez-Chiellini episode, we've seen things measured with a completely different scale.

"I don't think one shouldn't punish or sanction, but always, always between human beings, one must always give an opportunity to one who commits a mistake. That's why I don't agree with the theory of a scapegoat."

Tabarez concluded his statement by vowing long-term support for Suarez and urging his players to channel their sense of injustice when they take to the pitch against Colombia on Saturday.

"To Luis Suarez the person, who has lived with us and who we know better than anyone else the path he has covered and the one he will go through again, attempting, as someone who starts again, to be better, we let him know he will never be alone in that attempt," Tabarez said.

"To the Uruguayan fans: they, like us, are moved by the resonance of this punishment.

"I want to let them know that we are hurt, but with our outstanding force and more than ever tomorrow (Saturday), we will do our utmost."

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-06-28

[Mango Bob]

The guy is a complete idiot and so is the sport.

[chubby]

one could make the case, the team should have been penalized, like a redcard afterthefact, and play with 10 players, and the player, could be charged with assault, i wonder anyone would play on the same pitch with him again, wierd .....

[pedro01]

lol @ scapegoat....

He bit someone - it's assault - he's lucky his ass isn't in a Brazillian jail.

He got what he deserved - now stop whining about it.

[submaniac]

If I (or any other ordinary person) walks down the street and bites someone, we'd be arrested.

[oldsailor35]

Suarez is no "scapegoat" he is an habitual BITER ! He should have been banned for 4 years. He is a constant cheater by his proliferate "diving"

Yes the Brits made him their player of the year, but that only indicates their required standards of behaviour.

With this indication, the Premiership standard will surely slip as their young players learn how to convincingly do the dive (CHEAT)

[oldsailor35]

one could make the case, the team should have been penalized, like a redcard afterthefact, and play with 10 players, and the player, could be charged with assault, i wonder anyone would play on the same pitch with him again, wierd .....

Well, the Brits seem to think his behaviour is ok., so they will gladly play with him.

[NongKhaiKid]

Suarez is no "scapegoat" he is an habitual BITER ! He should have been banned for 4 years. He is a constant cheater by his proliferate "diving"

Yes the Brits made him their player of the year, but that only indicates their required standards of behaviour.

With this indication, the Premiership standard will surely slip as their young players learn how to convincingly do the dive (CHEAT)

i agree with your sentiments BUT point of order Mr. Chairman the Brits didn't make him player of the year the English did for their league.

Britain, England and UK are not synonymous and therefore not interchangeable.

[Baerboxer]

Suarez is no "scapegoat" he is an habitual BITER ! He should have been banned for 4 years. He is a constant cheater by his proliferate "diving"

Yes the Brits made him their player of the year, but that only indicates their required standards of behaviour.

With this indication, the Premiership standard will surely slip as their young players learn how to convincingly do the dive (CHEAT)

Suarez clearly has psychological problems. He was very caring in his consolation and concern for Gerard after the England game. Then he can turn violent and assault another player by biting in a flash. Third time - should be banned for life or at least until he has proven therapy.

However, many other "sportsmen" cheat and commit violence and get away with it through an unwillingness to punish. Look at the former Australian rugby union captain who clearly and deliberately stamped on the head of an opponent and got away with it - even despite an appeal. Or the Australian number 7 who spends most of the game hovering offside as long as he can get away with it. Cheating seems to have become more acceptable, despite TV and replays showing it.

Some teams, their management and individuals seem to regard cheating as "acceptable gamesmanship" providing they don't get caught. If they do they whine like stuck pigs about unfair persecution etc.

FIFA should now look at the actions and response of the Uruguayan FA and management and consider appropriate action as they appear to be condoning biting.

[Baerboxer]

one could make the case, the team should have been penalized, like a redcard afterthefact, and play with 10 players, and the player, could be charged with assault, i wonder anyone would play on the same pitch with him again, wierd .....

Well, the Brits seem to think his behaviour is ok., so they will gladly play with him.

Not Brits - he plays in the very well payed English Premier League, arguably the most successful and watched of all the premier leagues. He is given a world stage to perform on for vast wages and acts as a role model for millions of wannabees.

Unfortunately, one of the effects of modern professional sports, seems to be an acceptance of bad behavior providing you do your job. His job is to score, which he does.

He has been banned, find what for him is peanuts, is loosing some of his sponsors and may find his future transfer plans at risk. But, bottom line, clubs will want him while he's still a prolific goal scorer.

[JoeLing]

Take away his football and give him a doggy-bone.
Fetch Suarez, fetch .....

[animatic]

That the Uruguay coach is defending him says a lot about how they see this potentially health risking assault on another player. Elsewhere I saw they were thinking of not playing the next game " in solidarity" with Suarez. Seems the team is as daft as he is.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[keith101]

this is his 3rd time caught biting someone and should be put out for12 months and a warning of one more offence and he gets life ban

[chubby]

they need to reform the WC, allow some instant replay , and not make it all about knockout and penalty kicks, dumb way to decide the biggest match in the world, and crackdown on the diving, they all look like little babies .......

[KhunKone]

He's always been an <deleted>.

To bad as he got football skills, but maybe (really not sure though) one day he would learn...

[PiPiFFS]

This man, and I use the term very lightly is just one of many overpaid, overindulged Prima Donna's running around the pitch actually believing they are worth the ridiculous sums of money they are paid to kick a ball around.

A 4 month ban would be a pathetic penalty for a first offence of biting an opponent and a third offence like this should be an automatic life ban. After all are not FIFA trying to clean up the game and rid it of this type of behaviour ? If they are they are going about it all wrong.

[bigbamboo]

they need to reform the WC, allow some instant replay , and not make it all about knockout and penalty kicks, dumb way to decide the biggest match in the world, and crackdown on the diving, they all look like little babies .......

Why are penalties a dumb way of deciding a match? They are the ultimate test of nerve and technique and there's no one to blame but yourself if you screw up. And if the poor little overpaid lambs aren't up to it they can always take a powder instead.