Uruguayan President Jose Mujica has weighed into the Luis Suarez biting row with a stirring defence of his compatriot.
Suarez was yesterday banned by FIFA for nine international games, but also received a four-month suspension from all footballing activity and was fined around £85,000.
But Mujica, who is renowned for being one of South America’s more liberal premiers, claimed that the sanction against Suarez was excessive, and was punishment for knocking out European heavyweights Italy and England.
“They’ve gone too far,” said Mujica.
“They want to punish him severely and because we are Uruguayan and we are small it’s cheap for them to do so, it doesn’t cost them anything.
“They measure him by a different yardstick and it is that which makes us indignant.
“We knocked out England and Italy, look how much money they’ve lost there!
“The issue is that we are a small country and our television rights aren’t worth very much money.
“I’m waiting for him to come back so I can give him a big hug.”
