Uruguay manager Oscar Tabarez has spoken out strongly against the Luis Suarez ban

The gaffer has made a very strong statement...

Uruguay manager Oscar Tabarez has blamed the media and English speaking journalists for the fallout from the Luis Suarez bite. Tabarez spoke to the press for the first time since the incident happened this evening. The manager refused to take questions but only made a brief statement about his star striker, who has been banned for nine international matches and four months from all football. These journalists were at the press conference and they tweeted updates as it happened...

Awaiting Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez for pre-match press conference at Maracana. — Tom Williams (@tomwfootball) June 27, 2014

 

Uruguay press conference: Oscar Tabarez says he will make statement on Suarez "because it is the most important issue to us" & take no Qs — Paul Kelso (@pkelso) June 27, 2014

 

Tabarez: "After we saw the images, we saw there was a certain possibility of punishing Chiellini and Suarez" #ita #uru — Henry Winter (@henrywinter) June 27, 2014

 

Tabarez: We thought there was a possibility that both Chiellini & Suarez would be punished... we never expected excessive severity" — Paul Kelso (@pkelso) June 27, 2014

 

Tabarez: "The journalists treated it like it was the only relevant theme. I don't know where they were from, but they all spoke English." — Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) June 27, 2014

 

Tabarez: "It was a decision focused on the view of the media... I don't know what nationality they were but they all spoke English" — Paul Kelso (@pkelso) June 27, 2014

 

Tabarez: "There is a danger in this, and it's too often forgotten that in the centre of this is a person, who has rights." — Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) June 27, 2014

 

Tabarez resigns as a member of the Fifa strategy committee: "It is not prudent to be part of the organisation" — Paul Kelso (@pkelso) June 27, 2014

 

Rambling Tabarez speech comes to an end. He refuses to take questions & leaves. Applauded by Uruguayan press. Utterly bizarre ... — Sam Wallace (@SamWallaceIndy) June 27, 2014

 

Not sure Oscar Tabarez can call what just happened in Brazil a press conference. Sounded more like #URU propaganda rally. — Richard Buxton (@Richard_Buxton_) June 27, 2014

 

Tabarez "To Luis Suarez the person, the path he has covered, he will start again, and to let him know he will not be alone on that path" — Ian Abrahams (Moose) (@BroadcastMoose) June 27, 2014

 

Extraordinary stuff in Tabarez presser. English media blamed for scapegoating of Suarez, who is currently Football Writers' Player of Year. — Tom Peck (@tompeck) June 27, 2014