Not Enough Proof Against Luis Suarez, Says Uruguay Football Association
Uruguay striker Luis Suarez faces expulsion from the FIFA World Cup if he is found guilty of biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini during a Group D match on Tuesday.
Uruguay Football Association chief Wilmar Valdez said on Wednesday there is insufficient proof to sanction star striker Luiz Suarez for biting an Italian defender.
"We believe that there is not sufficient evidence to truly sanction Luis," Valdez told Channel 10 television.
"It has to be clear and on the video that FIFA gave us we think that it is not really clear," Valdez said after presenting a case for Suarez to a FIFA hearing in Rio de Janeiro. (Related: Twitter sinks teeth into Suarez after World Cup 'bite')
"We are confident that our defence will obtain results," he added. Suarez is accused of biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini during Uruguay's 1-0 over Italy in World Cup Group D on Tuesday. The victory took Uruguay through to the second round.
Uruguayan media said FIFA could announce a decision on the disciplinary hearing against Suarez on Wednesday night or early Thursday.
The Uruguay team is in Natal preparing for its second round game against Colombia on Saturday. (Read: FIFA tight-lipped on possible Suarez sanctions)
Uruguay captain Diego Lugano dismissed the incident meanwhile as "totally irrelevant" and accused British media of "persecuting" his teammate.
"What incident? Which incident? I don't know what incident you're talking about," the defender said when asked by a British journalist about the "Suarez incident".
"Are you talking about the (English) Premier League or the national team? Do you have a score to settle?"
The journalist tried to explain himself in English but he was told the press conference was in Spanish.
"I don't understand English," said Lugano, who played for English club West Bromwich Albion last season. (Also read: Suarez's sponsorship deal under review)
"British media are persecuting Suarez, everybody knows it. It sells newspapers over there. You wouldn't be here if that wasn't the case," he told reporters in Natal.
"We are happy about yesterday's triumph," Lugano said. Addressing the British journalist again, he said: "I think you're not happy because one can see it in your face that you're not very happy about Uruguay's victory."
"We are talking about a totally irrelevant incident. Other incidents are more violent -- an elbow to the nose or a kick on the leg of the opponent, that is violent." (Bite controversy: Suarez's tough childhood to blame, says sports psychologist)