Uruguay's Oscar Tabarez steps down from FIFA committee after Suarez ban

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) -- Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez quit FIFA's strategic committee on Friday in protest at the ban football's governing body imposed on his

SI Staff | Jun 27, 2014

Uruguay's Oscar Tabarez steps down from FIFA committee after Suarez ban /

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) -- Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez quit FIFA's strategic committee on Friday in protest at the ban football's governing body imposed on his team's star striker Luis Suarez for biting an Italian player.

Tabarez used the mandatory pre-match media event to make an often rambling 15-minute speech with no mention of the game on Saturday, when Uruguay faces Colombia in the Round of 16.

Luis Suarez challenges Tabarez to restore Uruguay's reputation - again

In his monologue, Tabarez blamed English-speaking media for creating pressure on the FIFA disciplinary panel to punish Suarez. He hinted that Uruguay, perhaps as a small country, was being singled out.

''It is not wise, at least it is not prudent to be in an organization with people who exerted pressure in order to promote this decision,'' Tabarez said.

He said those who punished Suarez had ''values that are very different from those that I believe I have.''

FIFA's panel banned Suarez for nine international matches and four months for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini in a group-stage match on Tuesday. Uruguay won 1-0 to advance.

It's the third time Suarez has been punished for biting an opposing player on the field - the previous two suspensions were imposed by the Dutch and English leagues.

Tabarez said Suarez was being made a ''scapegoat.''

''Who wins, who loses? Who benefits, who is harmed? Who ended up getting things their way?'' the coach said in Spanish.

Tabarez said Uruguay's staff and players had been expecting some action against Suarez but were stunned by the severity.

Biting In Sports

Luis Suarez and Giorgio Chiellini

With Uruguay chasing a result it would eventually get, Suarez appeared to bite Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini, marking the third time he has sunk his teeth into an opponent. Suarez is under intense scrutiny for just about everything he does, so the fact that this is an issue again is just an asinine development. Chiellini pulled his shirt down to show the marks to referee Marco Rodriguez -- who, ironically, is nicknamed ChiquiDracula -- but Suarez was not disciplined for the incident. The powers that be at FIFA might act differently.

Luis Suarez and Branislav Ivanovic

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez of Uruguay bit Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic's arm during a Premier League match on April 21, 2013, before scoring his 30th goal of the season - a last-gasp equalizer - to clinch a 2-2 draw. "For my unacceptable behavior yesterday, the club has fined me today,'' Suarez wrote on his Twitter and Facebook accounts. Suarez did not face a police investigation after Ivanovic said he did not want to press charges. "He had no apparent physical injuries and did not wish to make a complaint,'' Merseyside Police said in a statement. Suarez was suspended for seven matches in 2010 while playing for Ajax after biting a player.

Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield

V.J. Lovero/SI; Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

In the most famous biting incident in sports history, Mike Tyson took a chunk of Evander Holyfield's ear during the third round of their June 1997 heavyweight match. Tyson was disqualified and fined $3 million.

Alex Burrows and Patrice Bergeron

Canucks winger Alex Burrows appeared to bite the right finger of Bruins center Patrice Bergeron during the first game of the 2011 Stanley Cup finals. Bergeron was seen wearing a bandage on his finger after the game. Mike Murphy, the NHL's Senior Vice President of Operations, announced the following day that Burrows would not be suspended for the incident. "After reviewing the incident, including speaking with the on-ice officials, I can find no conclusive evidence that Alex Burrows intentionally bit the finger of Patrice Bergeron," Murphy wrote in a release issued by the NHL.

Jarkko Ruutu and Andrew Peters

In 2009, Senators right wing Jarko Ruutu made headlines after he allegedly bit the thumb of Sabres' enforcer Andrew Peters. Though Ruutu denied the incident, he was suspended for two games and fined $31,700.

Mikhail Grabovski and Max Pacioretty

Maple Leafs forward Mikhail Grabovski faced a disciplinary hearing with the NHL after he was accused of biting Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty during a fight at 11:30 of the third period in Toronto's 6-0 win over Montreal on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. Grabovski received a 10-minute misconduct and a roughing minor after the scuffle. Pacioretty was also issued a 10-minute misconduct for the play in which he emerged showing his wrist to the officials, claiming that Grabovski had put the chomp on him. Grabovski got off without being disciplined by the league, but he is hardly the first NHL player who's been accused of biting. As former head coach Craig MacTavish once said, "Guys get hungry...in the third period."

Claude Lemieux and Jim Peplinski

One of the most famous NHL incidents occurred during the 1986 Stanley Cup Final when Canadiens agitator Claude Lemieux (left) got into a scrap with Calgary's Jim Peplinski. Lemieux scratched at Peplinski's eyes and the bit the Flames' forward's finger to the bone. "I was skating to the penalty box and showed the bloody finger to (referee) Denis Morel," Peplinski later recalled to the Toronto Globe and Mail . "He said, 'How do I know you didn't do it to yourself?'" Peplinski got a tetanus shot and remarked, "I didn't know they allowed cannibalism in the NHL." Here's the video of the incident .

Tree Rollins and Danny Ainge

During 1983 playoffs, Atlanta's Tree Rollins bit Boston's Danny Ainge during a brawl. The headline in the papers the next day famously read, "Tree Bites Man."

Francisco Gallardo

In 2001, Sevilla midfielder Francisco Gallardo celebrated a goal by teammate Jose Antonio Reyes by biting on Reyes' genitals. Gallardo was fined and suspended for the celebration by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, which said the move violated standards of "sporting dignity and decorum."

Muhammad Ali and Ron Lyle

Muhammad Ali looks as if he is biting Ron Lyle's arm during their heavyweight bout in Las Vegas in 1975. Ali won with an 11th round TKO.

Jerry Tarkanian

Jerry Tarkanian chews on his towel while watching his Runnin' Rebels take on Duke in the 1990 championship game. UNLV would go on to win 103-73.

Serge Ibaka

Thunder forward Serge Ibaka bites a stuffed animal during the 2011 NBA All-Star Saturday Night slam dunk contest in Los Angeles.

Kevin Barry and David Tua

Manager Kevin Barry teases David Tua by nibbling his ear while he posed for photos at a training facility in Las Vegas.

Tim Hague and Joey Beltran

Tim Hague samples the knee of Joey Beltran during their heavyweight bout at UFC 113 in Montreal. Beltran would win by unanimous decision.

Fin and Anne Heche

Fin, the mascot of the Vancouver Canucks, takes a bite of actress Anne Heche during a game at General Motors Place in Vancouver.

Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade

Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade test the authenticity of their medals after defeating Spain 118-107 to claim top prize.

Marc Lopez and Rafael Nadal

Marc Lopez and Rafael Nadal of Spain bite their trophies after defeating Daniel Nestor of Canada and Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia in the doubles final during the 2009 ATP Qatar Tennis Open in Doha, Qatar.

Michael Jordan

Bulls guard Michael Jordan chews his jersey following a call against him during a game against Seattle.

Alex Ovechkin

Alex Ovechkin tries out his stick during the skills competition of the 2011 NHL All-Star Weekend.

Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods bites his club after his second shot on the 11th hole during the final round of the 2009 Memorial golf tournament in Dublin, Ohio. Woods chipped in for eagle on the hole.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga takes a healthy bite out of a tennis ball after missing a point against Juan Martin del Potro during the 2008 Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai.

Dinara Safina

Dinara Safina chomps on her racket while taking on Li Na during the singles semifinal of the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing.

The Raptor

The Raptor devours an usher during a game between Toronto and Miami.

Jay and Chase Buhner

Mariners rightfielder Jay Buhner and son Chase share a bat while appearing on a 1996 SI cover.

Anton Khudobin

Minnesota goalie Anton Khudobin samples the puck after beating Vancouver 2-0 to record his first career shutout.

Sam Walker

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Carlos Quentin

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Mardy Gilyard and Ricardo Mathews

Mardy Gilyard and Ricardo Mathews of the Cincinnati Bearcats enjoyed some oranges after a 2008 victory over Syracuse. The Bearcats defeated the Orange 30-10 to claim the Big East title and a spot in the Orange Bowl.

Mike Francesa and Chris Russo

Former WFAN radio personality Chris "Mad Dog" Russo with partner Mike Francesa. The two hosted a radio show together in New York City for two decades.

Oliver Perez

Mets pitcher Oliver Perez shows his disgust after giving up a run to the Braves in 2006.

Uga VI

A member of the University of Georgia color guard reacts as UGA VI leaps at a flag before the start of Georgia's 2004 game against Georgia Southern. UGA V made headlines in 1996, when he lunged at Auburn receiver Robert Baker after Baker scored a touchdown.

Vince Young

Texas quarterback Vince Young clenches a rose after the Longhorns defeated Colorado to advance to the 2006 Rose Bowl.

Paula Creamer

Paula Creamer bites her club after her chip shot on the 18th green rolled in for a birdie during the third round of the LPGA Tournament of Champions in Mobile, Ala.

Potito Starace

Potito Starace samples the net after missing an easy shot during his semifinal match against Juergen Melzer at the 2008 Austrian Open in Kitzbuehel, Austria.

''We never thought or expected what we found out when we were told about the details of the punishment - of an excessive severity,'' he said. ''The decision was much more focused on the opinions of the media, and that media attacked immediately at the conclusion of the match. ... I don't know what their nationality was, but they all spoke English.''

Tabarez, 67, a former member of coaching advisory groups at FIFA tournaments, said he must also leave those positions with the sport's governing body.

The FIFA strategic committee is chaired by FIFA President Sepp Blatter and deals with ''global strategies for football and its political, economic and social status.''

It meets no more than twice a year and has largely symbolic status within FIFA.

Tabarez left the news conference after his statement and did not take questions. No Uruguay player attended, which is a breach of FIFA's World Cup guidelines.

He had earlier wrapped up by talking about Suarez ''the person,'' and said he was not suggesting the Liverpool star should not be punished.

''But always, always one must give an opportunity to the one that makes a mistake,'' he said.

Tabarez ended his speech with personal words for Suarez, who has returned to Uruguay.

''To Luis Suarez, the person who has always been with us,'' Taberez said. ''We know him better than anyone else. The path that he has covered is a path that he will go through again, attempting as someone who starts again to be better.

''But to let him know - he will never be alone in that attempt.''

Published Jun 27, 2014

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