Blatter avoids commenting on Suarez

Rio de Janeiro, June 28 (IANS/EFE) FIFA president Sepp Blatter has avoided commenting on the ban handed down to Uruguay striker Luis Suarez after he bit Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini during Uruguay's 1-0 victory in the World Cup Group D match.

The 28-year-old Suarez was banned for nine international matches and suspended from participating in any football-related activity for four months. The sanction, which also includes a fine of 100,000 Swiss Francs, is scheduled to start Saturday when Uruguay take on Colombia in the Round of 16.

Reactions to Suarez's suspension have varied but Chiellini himself has called it harsh.

--IANS/EFE

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