Italian international defender Giorgio Chiellini has offered an olive branch to Luis Suarez following the Liverpool forward’s four month ban from football.
Suarez bit the shoulder of Chiellini during Uruguay’s 1-0 victory over Italy at the World Cup on Tuesday and has suspended by FIFA.
The 27-year-old has been banned from the sport for four months and nine international games, though an appeal has been lodged by Uruguay.
Chiellini, who plays his club football for Juventus in Serie A, says he feels no resentment for Suarez and described FIFA’s punishment as “excessive”.
“Now inside me there’s no feelings of joy, revenge or anger against Suarez for an incident that happened on the pitch and that’s done,” he wrote on his official personal website.
“There only remain the anger and the disappointment about the match.”
The 29-year-old continued to offer his support for Suarez in dealing with the imminent future.
“At the moment my only thought is for Luis and his family, because they will face a very difficult period.
“I have always considered unequivocal the disciplinary interventions by the competent bodies, but at the same time I believe that the proposed formula is excessive.
“I sincerely hope that he will be allowed, at least, to stay close to his team mates during the games because such a ban is really alienating for a player.”
Suarez arrived back in Uruguay on Thursday night to support from local fans:
Fans waiting for Luis #uru pic.twitter.com/sSgJvOFpPW
— Laura #GarraCharrua ??? (@LBCeleste) June 26, 2014
Liverpool are yet to make an official reaction to FIFA’s sanction, which will see Suarez unable take part in club activities until late October.
A brief statement from chief executive officer Ian Ayre on their official website reads:
Liverpool Football Club will wait until we have seen and had time to review the FIFA Disciplinary Committee report before making any further comment.
Have a read of what Friday’s back pages are saying in our newspaper round-up.
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