The Sunday Mail
Italian soccer player Giorgio Chiellini, made famous around the globe as the victim of a biting attack by Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez during a World Cup match on Tuesday night, says he bears no hard feelings against Suarez.
In an magnanimous statement posted on his website, Chiellini said had “no feelings of joy, revenge or anger” against Suarez following the attack.
Chiellini also called the four-month ban given to Suarez by soccer governing body FIFA “excessive.”
FIFA gave Suarez a nine-game suspension as well as banning him from all soccer activity for four months, meaning he will miss out on the rest of the World Cup and on the first matches in the upcoming Premier League season, where Suarez plays for Liverpool.
“At the moment my only thought is for Luis and his family, because they will face a very difficult period,” Chiellini wrote.
“Now inside me there’s no feelings of joy, revenge or anger against Suarez for an incident that happened on the pitch and that’s done.
“There only remain the anger and the disappointment about the match.
“At the moment my only thought is for Luis and his family, because they will face a very difficult period.
“I have always considered unequivocal the disciplinary interventions by the competent bodies, but at the same time I believe that the proposed formula is excessive.
“I sincerely hope that he will be allowed, at least, to stay close to his team-mates during the games because such a ban is really alienating for a player.”
Meanwhile, Diego Maradona has slammed Fifa for its decision to ban Suarez.
Maradona, who wore a T-shirt with a message of support for Suarez which read “Luis we are with you”, has criticised world football’s governing body, claiming they are treating him as though he committed a far more heinous crime.
“This decision is a disgrace,” he said on TV show De Zurda. “I can’t understand this. Who did Suarez kill to get this kind of ban? Why don’t (Fifa) handcuff him and send him to Guantanamo (Bay)?
“A player works hard the whole year to be able to play at the World Cup and Luis scored 29 goals (sic) and they kick him out of the World Cup like this. It’s unbelievable.
“Remember (Zinedine) Zidane and what he did in that (2006) World Cup final? Fifa then gave him the Golden Ball,” he added, before laughing.
The show then broadcast a discussion between Maradona and Uruguay defender Diego Lugano, who insisted the ban was harsh.
“They treat him like a criminal,” the captain said.
“Escorted by the police (out of the Uruguay camp). He did nothing. How wouldn’t I defend him at that Press conference?
“He’s such a great guy. This ban is very harsh. It hits him at the very top of his level. At the best moment in his career.” — Agencies.
