Uruguay coach Oscar
Tabarez accused FIFA of an indiscriminate use of power by imposing an
"excessive" punishment on striker Luis Suarez and he said he would resign
from positions he holds within world football's governing body.
FIFA
had made a "scapegoat" of Suarez and had "punished him with excessive
severity" but the forward will have the full support of the Uruguayan
football authorities, Tabarez told reporters on Friday.
He
refused to answer questions at a packed news conference the day before his team
face Colombia in their World Cup last-16 match at the Maracana, and after
reading from a prepared statement for over 14 minutes left to loud applause
from Uruguayan reporters.
Suarez
was banned on Thursday for Uruguay's next nine competitive international
matches and from any involvement in football for four months after biting
defender Giorgio Chiellini in their 1-0 Group D win over
Italy.
Tabarez
said after seeing the images of what happened, he and his coaching staff
expected action to be taken against both Suarez and Chiellini.
"But
we never thought the decision would be what it was and of such an excessive
severity," he said.
"It
was a decision much more focused on the opinions of the media who at the
conclusion of the match, and at the press conference afterwards focused on just
one topic.
"I
don't know what their nationality was - but they all spoke English."
Tabarez
hinted that some kind of conspiracy theory was at work to determine Suarez's
punishment.
"When
I speak of media attacks the topic that was concentrated on was the background
and history of things that have happened in the past," he said.
"We
know that he was sanctioned, he was punished, and he complied with those
sanctions but in spite of that the harassments have continued."
Tabarez
then turned his attention to FIFA.
"We
all know where the power lies - in the hands of the organiser," he said.
"But
that does not mean we will accept the indiscriminate use of that power. I am
talking about the Disciplinary Committee that imparts justice.
"I
have also been a teacher in my life and a professor and I am presenting the
theory of the scapegoat, and there is a danger in proceeding this way.
"The
scapegoat is a person with rights and in the case of Luis Suarez here is a man has made mistakes and
has faults but who has made a significant contribution on the pitch.
"But
with this decision, who wins? Who is the winner? Who loses? Who benefits? Who
has ended up getting things their way?
"I
cannot give you the final answer but not all cases are judged the same."
He
then seemed to accept that Suarez had done something wrong.
"I
am not justifying anything and saying there should be no punishment," he
said. "I don't, though, agree with the theory of having a scapegoat."
Before
leaving Tabarez said he would be resigning from his positions with FIFA where
he has sat on both the Strategy Committee and the Technical Study Group.
"I
have been linked with FIFA for many years as a member of the TSG and as a
teacher and I have a position now on the Strategy Committee, but I now feel I
must leave that position," he said.
"It
is not wise or prudent to be in an organization with people who have values
very different from those I believe in."
Before
walking out without saying a word about Saturday's match, he said Suarez would
have the full support of the Uruguayan people and football authorities.
"To
Luis Suarez the person who has always co-existed with us, he is on the path to
be better and he will never be alone in that attempt."
No comments:
Post a Comment