Player Luis Suarez Bit Calls FIFA Punishment 'Excessive'
Why Italy's Giorgio Chiellini thinks the ban is too harsh.
— -- The Italian soccer player who Uruguay's Luis Suarez sank his teeth into says FIFA's punishment is "excessive."
Despite the bite, Giorgio Chiellini said he has "no feelings of joy, revenge or anger" toward Suarez after FIFA, soccer' world governing body, announced that the player would be suspended for four months, meaning he's banned from playing the rest of the World Cup.
"At the moment my only thought is for Luis and his family, because they will face a very difficult period," Chiellini wrote on his blog today.
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He called FIFA's formula for disciplinary actions "excessive."
"I sincerely hope that he will be allowed, at least, to stay close to his teammates during the games because such a ban is really alienating for a player," Chiellini wrote.
That won't happen. Suarez left the team on Thursday and is home in Montevideo.
FIFA also banned Suarez, who plays for Uruguay's national team and Liverpool in England, from his next nine international matches, which will likely stretch beyond four months. The association said Suarez showed "unsporting behavior toward another player" when he chomped on Chiellini's shoulder during the Uruguay-Italy World Cup match on Tuesday.
Suarez also lost an endorsement deal with the betting website 888Poker, the company said today.
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