Featured Image Credit: Alamy
Topics: Football World Cup, Luis Suarez, Uruguay, South Korea, Ghana
Josh Lawless
Topics: Football World Cup, Luis Suarez, Uruguay, South Korea, Ghana
Luis Suarez ranted at FIFA after Uruguay were eliminated from the World Cup in dramatic fashion on Friday.
Suarez captained Uruguay against Ghana, 12 years on from his controversial handball in the 2010 quarter-final in South Africa.
After Andre Ayew missed a penalty, Uruguay won 2-0 courtesy of a first-half brace from Flamengo's Giorgian de Arrascaeta.
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However, the South American side were left devastated as Wolves forward Hwang Hee-chan scored a 91st minute winner for South Korea against Portugal to pip Uruguay to a round of 16 spot on goals scored.
Suarez sobbed uncontrollably on the bench, hanging his shirt over his head. It could be the former Liverpool and Barcelona star's final World Cup game and Suarez fumed after the exit.
Taking to Instagram, he wrote: "Saying goodbye to a World Cup hurts a lot, but we have the peace of mind that we left everything for our country.
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"Proud to be Uruguayan even though they don’t respect us. Thanks to each of the Uruguayans who supported us in every part of the world!"
But it was in a post-match interview where he laid into FIFA, referencing a late penalty shout on Edinson Cavani that did not receive a VAR check.
"I see a penalty for Cavani because he is cut off by the defender and he puts his body in front of him," he told Uruguayan TV channel TeleDoce.
"Darwin’s is very clear too. They are not excuses, but incredible penalties are being awarded in this World Cup. And there is the committee of referees and FIFA, and they have to try to explain themselves better, at least."
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It wasn't just the officiating which Suarez took issue with FIFA over not being allowed to see his wife and children on the Al Janoub Stadium pitch.
"I saw a France player with his children on the substitute bench," he explained.
"So why always [is it a problem] against Uruguay? It seems that we have to have another power at the media level to have access and to allow my children to come down for a second to greet me, but hey, that’s FIFA."
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After the game, Uruguay players angrily chased the officials and goalkeeper Fernando Muslera appeared to shove the linesman.
An incensed Cavani then attacked the VAR monitor as he headed down the tunnel.