Uruguay Football Association call Luis Suarez ban ‘totally exaggerated’

The Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) said it would appeal against a four-month global ban imposed against star striker Luis Suarez for biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup.
AUF president Wilmar Valdez called the Fifa punishment against Suarez, also comprising a nine-match international ban, "totally exaggerated".
"We feel the decision is totally over the top because for us there was no incontrovertible proof to warrant such a tough punishment," Valdez said in Rio de Janeiro. "Uruguay does not seek privileges or exceptions. What Uruguay does ask is that the law be applied equally to all, and Fifa should ensure that is the case.
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"And we have seen more or similarly aggressive incidents than that involving Luis Suarez and yet [in those cases Fifa's] disciplinary commission did not act as it is now doing."
But Valdez said he did not think Suarez was being victimised.
Uruguay face Colombia tomorrow but Valdez said there was no possibility of boycotting the match.
Uruguayan captain Diego Lugano, meanwhile, posted a message to social media saying the squad were aghast at the punishment but felt powerless to do anything.
"Indignant. Powerless. I think this is what we all feel," said Lugano, but "those who are in charge are in charge".
"A hug to Luis, who as always will bounce back. We will carry on with humility, solidarity, commitment, recognising our mistakes and with our heads always held high," said Lugano, who was sat on the bench for the match as he was injured.
Suarez was banned for biting an opponent after a previous case while at Ajax in 2010 and last year playing for Liverpool when he bit the arm of Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic.
Uruguayan sports minister Liliam Kechichian blasted the punishment for Suarez as "disproportionate".
She vowed to discuss the matter with Uruguayan president Jose Mujica, who, on Wednesday, had already backed the player. "This is something which affects the whole of Uruguayan society," she said.
Uruguayan news and social media users united to express solidarity with Suarez and blast his punishment as overly severe.
Web users used the hashtag #TodosSomosSuarez (we are all Suarez) to express indignation and blame everybody save for Suarez.
"Indignant at the Fifa resolution. Go Uruguay. We are all Suarez!!", said Monica Xavier, senator and president of the leftist Frente Amplio grouping while opposition senator Alfredo Solari blamed the English: "English leaders make me sick – sore losers. They forgot all about fair play."
Reaction elsewhere was different. Adidas, the sports equipment firm who sponsor Suarez, said that it "certainly does not condone Luis Suarez's recent behaviour and we will again be reminding him of the high standards we expect from our players. We have no plan to use Suarez for any additional marketing activities during the 2014 Fifa World Cup."
Jim Boyce, the Fifa vice-president, said: "I think the punishment handed out is fully justified. Hopefully, he will realise now that behaviour of this type will not be tolerated under any circumstances."
Legendary Brazil striker Ronaldo perhaps summed up opinion outside Uruguay, saying: "I never bit anyone, I know bites hurt. [If] my kids bite me they are punished in the dark room with the big bad wolf: that's the soccer equivalent of not playing soccer for four months."
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