Uruguayans reacted angrily yesterday after FIFA suspended their star striker Luis Suarez for nine matches for biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini, with many slamming the ban as exaggerated, hypocritical, or even biased.

"They're acting as if he were a criminal, a terrorist," said Maria Cardozo, a 48-year-old office worker. "They're exaggerating the aggression although I do think it warranted some sort of punishment."

Suarez is synonymous with controversy in much of the world. He has twice before been banned for biting and had to sit out eight matches for racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra.

But in small, football-crazed Uruguay, the Liverpool forward is a big hero.

Some were quickly crying foul yesterday and blasting global soccer body FIFA's judgment, which leaves Uruguay without its main scorer against Colombia tomorrow in the first knockout round.

"I don't want to get into conspiracy theories, but it seems that FIFA isn't interested in letting small countries such as Uruguay advance," said 62-year-old lawyer Andres Ramirez.

Local media have blasted a British-led ‘manhunt' against him, and even President Jose Mujica spoke up for Suarez.

"What is incomprehensible is the vitriol with which the English press, in particular, have gone after the Uruguayan. Far worse things have happened on the pitch, even where English players are concerned," said Uruguayan Andreas Campomar, author of "Golazo! A History of Latin American Football". "For many Latin Americans the ban will have wider repercussions. It will be construed as the usual high-handedness Europe employs in relation to Latin America."

Meanwhile, Liverpool said it would make no immediate decision on Suarez.

A statement issued by the Premier League giant's chief executive, Ian Ayre, said: "Liverpool Football Club will wait until we have seen and had time to review the FIFA Disciplinary Committee report before making any further comment."

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