Uruguay leader blasts FIFA over Suarez
Print Edition
URUGUAY’S incensed President Jose Mujica has lambasted FIFA bosses as “sons of bitches” who meted out “fascist” treatment to striker Luis Suarez for biting an Italian defender at the World Cup.
Mujica has led national outrage at the world governing body’s sanctioning of Suarez who received a nine-match ban from playing for Uruguay and a four-month prohibition from all football-related activity for biting Giorgio Chiellini.
“At FIFA, they are a bunch of old sons of bitches,” the 79-year-old president said when meeting the Uruguay team off the plane from Brazil on Sunday afternoon.
“They could have punished (him), but not with fascist sanctions,” added Mujica, an always colorful character and former leftist guerrilla who has a cult following in some quarters due to his blunt language and humble style of life.
The video was all over Uruguay media yesterday.
Realizing he was being filmed at the airport, Mujica jokingly covered his mouth before saying: “Publish it”.
His wife, Lucia Topolansky, added her agreement.
The president’s comments reflect the mood in Uruguay, a small country that is proud of its outsized soccer accomplishments, including two World Cup championships.
In his weekly radio address on Friday, Mujica said the Suarez punishment “will be an eternal shame” in the history of the World Cup.
Uruguay’s national football association is appealing the punishment against Suarez, who was also fined 100,000 Swiss francs (US$112,000) and will miss the start of the Premier League season with Liverpool unless his appeal works.
A brilliant but temperamental player, Suarez has kept a low profile since returning to Uruguay, with just one public message to thank compatriots and fans for their support.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
