Posted on 06/28/2014 2:27:34 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Suarez, who has been banned from all soccer activities for four months, missed the adoring crowd after his private flight home from Brazil was delayed.
Luis Suarez may have been banned from the World Cup but Uruguayans don’t seem to mind - in fact he’s being hailed a national hero.
Suarez won’t be on the pitch when his home country takes on Colombia Saturday in the knockout round, but it seems his sacrificial bite was enough to earn him an increased celebrity status.
“With the world against him, we want him to know that Uruguayans are for him,” student, Clara Bragard, told reporters.
Following the bite seen ‘round the world, FIFA slammed the striker with a four month, nine international game ban and ordered him to stay away from any soccer activity at the World Cup.
Over one thousand fans eagerly awaited his arrival at Carrassco International Airport in Montevideo Thursday night, including Uruguay's president Jose Mujica.
“I came to encourage Suarez because Suarez is the God of the national team,” said Lucia Romanello while waiting for his arrival, draped in a Uruguayan flag. “He gives his soul to the team.”
The president and Suarez’s supporters didn’t catch a glimpse of soccer’s most infamous biter after his private flight home was delayed.
Upon getting word that Suarez’s flight was delayed, the president made a quick exit.
Suarez did not arrive until around 5 a.m. and left the airport without stopping to speak to the press.
Many in the small South American country are accusing FIFA of unfair punishment of Suarez, claiming the federation is paving the way for larger nations at the Cup.
“I bet they are being rooted against far more now.”
I actually wanted them to go all the way without him (in a repaet of 1950, beating Brazil). All that the loss did what make him feel irreplaceable.
Commentators are sickened at the support for him from his teammates and coach; absolutely bizarre. As it was his third incident, he should have been banned for life.
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