Suarez's lawyer bites back

27 June 2014 12:32

Luis Suarez's lawyer has described the four-month biting ban handed to his client as "grotesque and absurd" and claimed: "All that was missing was life imprisonment."

The Uruguay and Liverpool striker was suspended for nine competitive games for his country and barred from all football activity for four months for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini during the World Cup group match between the nations on Tuesday.

The Uruguayan federation (AUF) has already signalled its intention to appeal, and even Chiellini has described the sanctions as "excessive".

Now Suarez's lawyer Alejandro Balbi has had his say, and told Spanish radio station Cadena Cope: "The ban is absolutely disproportionate considering what Luis did.

"Julio Grondona, vice-president of FIFA, told me that he had never seen such a serious ban handed to a player.

"This is so grotesque and absurd that the CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) will have to revoke this unjust ruling.

"Unjust not just due to the number of games given, which is already incredible, illogical and arbitrary, but also the issue of not being able to be allowed to have any relationship with football in 120 days, and then there's the fine.

"All that was missing was life imprisonment."

Balbi added: "From a legal standpoint it hasn't been fair. Even if he were responsible, the punishment does not have congruence with what was done.

"We are in constant contact with Liverpool and we are ready to fight until the end.

"Luis has suffered many inconveniences in the Premier League and now he is getting it from the Italians.

"They have picked him as the scapegoat."

Betting website 888poker announced earlier on Thursday that it had ended its arrangement with Suarez following the incident. The Uruguayan had been an ambassador for the company, a decision Balbi described as "madness".

As for his client's future, Balbi said: "I see (Suarez) playing football and that is what makes me happier. He has become a world star and he is among the three or four best (players) in the world and as a goalscorer there is no-one like him. Football will not be deprived of seeing him on a football pitch."

Source: PA