Disrespected Suarez the victim of a witch-hunt'

The striker was banned for four months for biting Giorgio Chiellini and handed a nine-match international ban, but one of his staunchest supporters has again claimed the punishm...


boss Oscar Tabarez believes Luis Suarez was "disrespected" and the victim of a "witch-hunt" in the aftermath of his World Cup biting controversy.
The Barcelona striker will not be available for the Copa America later this year following his nine-match ban for biting Giorgio Chiellini during Uruguay's clash with Italy in Brazil.
Tabarez branded the punishment as "excessive" at the time and quit his role with Fifa's strategic committee, but insists he is over the incident despite taking one last opportunity to hit out at the sanctions against his star player.
"I'm not angry," told ca2015.com, the official website of the Copa America. "I can't object to a punishment for a footballer when he has done something that is not permitted in the rules – that's not good.
"But when there's a witch-hunt and one does not respect a person that has made a mistake, that upsets me. But that is a closed case.
"I don't hold any malice towards them [FIFA] and don't want to cause any issues. During the World Cup, I just said what I was feeling at the time, that was how I saw things. But I have a clear conscience and it's something we don’t need to talk about too much now."
Uruguay are the reigning Copa America champions after winning the tournament in 2011 and Tabarez revealed he is working on a plan of action in Suarez's absence.
He added: "We are working to make sure we have a competitive team without Suarez.
"We have played games without him before, like the one against Venezuela [in June 2013] which we had to win to qualify for the World Cup and we won without Suarez then.
"It's the same as asking what happens to Argentina if they don't have [Lionel] Messi. Or which defender would play if Spain didn't have Sergio Ramos.
"Nearly all teams rely on their individuality, but I don't believe Uruguay will lose what they have because Suarez is not there.

"He will only miss the Copa America, but he will be back for the next World Cup and for the qualifying games."