27 Jun 2014

Uruguay to appeal Suarez ban, calls it excessive

4:49 pm on 27 June 2014

Uruguay will appeal against a record nine-match ban imposed by FIFA on striker Luis Suarez for biting an Italy defender in a football World Cup group match.

The Uruguay FA president Wilmer Valdez says the punishment is too strong for the foul and confirmed that they will appeal.

Valdez added that Uruguay does not feel persecuted and Suarez is not a victim.

However, Uruguayans are incensed by the ban, with many slamming it as exaggerated, hypocritical, or even biased.

Suarez will miss Uruguay's last-16 match against Colombia in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday and will play no further part in the tournament in Brazil if they progress.

Suarez was also suspended from any football-related activity for four months and fined $NZ115,000 by football's world governing body.

It means Suarez will miss the first nine games of Liverpool's Premier League season.