• Premier League

Reina slams 'absurd' Luis Suarez ban

ESPN staff
April 25, 2013

Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina has leapt to the defence of Luis Suarez, claiming the striker's 10-game suspension is "absurd, out of proportion and unfair".

Suarez was hit with a long suspension for biting Branislav Ivanovic during Liverpool's draw with Chelsea at the weekend.

The incident has polarised opinion, while it has been suggested the striker is considering his future in the Premier League following the ban.

Liverpool have closed ranks, managing director Ian Ayre said he was shocked by the length of the suspension, and that sentiment has been echoed by Spain international Reina.

"I consider myself a friend of Luis. He is being treated differently, I don't know if it's because he's Uruguayan or because he's had a previous episode like this...," Reina told Spanish radio station Cadena Cope.

"He knows full well that what he did was wrong but a 10-game ban seems to me absurd, out of proportion and unfair.

"It seems that the people making the decisions have got it in for Luis a little bit. That's the way I see it.

"I am not justifying what he did but the punishment is very disproportionate.

"He knows he was in the wrong, he knows he has made a mistake but the treatment is completely out of place.

"Those who know Luis know that he is the complete opposite (off the pitch), he is a magnificent person and great team-mate.

"But because of the way he plays, he is aggressive and very competitive, he plays like a street player and sometimes the way he is gets him into trouble."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices