Uruguay president curses FIFA

Published July 1, 2014
“They could have sanctioned him but not with fascist sanctions,” the President said of FIFA's ban on Suarez. -Photo by AP
“They could have sanctioned him but not with fascist sanctions,” the President said of FIFA's ban on Suarez. -Photo by AP

MONTEVIDEO: Uruguay’s President Jose Mujica has slammed FIFA leaders for banning the country’s star striker Luis Suarez over his infamous World Cup bite.

Mujica called the four-month ban on all football activity imposed on Suarez for biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini “fascist sanctions”.

The president made the comments to a state-run TV sports show which asked Mujica his opinion of the World Cup as he welcomed the defeated Uruguayans on their return from Brazil late Sunday.

“Those at FIFA are a gang,” Mujica said. He gasped.

The journalist asked if he could publish the remark. “For my part, sure,” Mujica shrugged.

“I support the president’s remarks,” added his wife, Senator Lucia Topolansky, who was stood next to him.

“They could have sanctioned him,” said Mujica, a 79 year-old ex-guerrila, “but not with fascist sanctions.”

In his weekly radio address on Friday, Mujica said the Suarez punishment “will be an eternal shame” in the history of the World Cup.

Published in Dawn, July 1st , 2014

Opinion

Editorial

Property valuation
Updated 31 Oct, 2024

Property valuation

Market valuation rates will not help boost tax revenues without plugging such loopholes in the system.
Hitting a wall
31 Oct, 2024

Hitting a wall

PAKISTAN still has a long way to go in defeating polio. Despite our decades-long fight against the debilitating...
Kurram violence
31 Oct, 2024

Kurram violence

DESPITE years of intermittent and bloody conflict in Kurram, the state has been unable to bring lasting peace to ...
Court business
Updated 30 Oct, 2024

Court business

The unity and commonality of purpose on display in the full court meeting are what will help the SC endure.
UNRWA ban
30 Oct, 2024

UNRWA ban

NOT content with the war of extermination it is executing against the Palestinian people, Israel now wants to ensure...
Cricket changes
30 Oct, 2024

Cricket changes

WIN or lose, Pakistan cricket seems to be embroiled in a constant state of flux. Just when things seemed to be...