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Murray dumps Iran Rola as Li Na, eliminated 16Venus advance 18 THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 2014

Algeria look for historic progress against Russia Page 17

Argentina top Group F

Suarez braces for ban after bite storm PORTO ALEGRE: A double from crack a Nigerian defence that had not con- a day after his 27th birthday inspired ceded a goal in their previous two matches. RIO DE JANEIRO: Football disciplinary chiefs gath- required professional help. to a 3-2 win over African champi- A telling pass by found ered evidence against Luis Suarez yesterday as calls “This is behavior that’s happened two times ons and assured them of finishing top Angel di Maria only for the Real Madrid man’s mounted for the Uruguay star to be kicked out of (before). You cannot justify it. I seriously think he of Group F at the World Cup finals yesterday. shot to ricochet off the near post. As the loose the World Cup after his latest biting storm. needs help,” said Everton manager Roberto Nigeria’s defeat-their fourth in four meet- ball bounced Messi magically appeared to The Liverpool striker shocked the footballing Martinez. Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler ings at the finals against Argentina-came with slam into the roof of ’s net. world when he sank his teeth into Italian defender admitted he was “flummoxed” by the case and said the considerable consolation that they still Argentina’s lead lasted all of 80 seconds Giorgio Chiellini during Uruguay’s 1-0 victory over the Anfield club should now seek to sell Suarez. progressed to the second round as Iran lost 3- when CSKA Moscow striker the Azzurri on Tuesday. “You can’t defend him,” Fowler said. “I love him as 1 to Bosnia-Hercegovina in the other group curled the ball artfully past Suarez, banned twice before for biting opposing a player, but you cannot condone what he has game. into the far post. players, could be expelled from the tournament if done.” Gordon Taylor, the head of England’s players Argentina, who are set to face either Enyeama then did well to keep the scores found guilty. Suarez and Uruguayan officials have union the Professional Footballers’ Association, Switzerland or Ecuador in the second round, level when keeping out di Maria’s thunderous until 5:00pm (2000 GMT) to submit evidence to a expressed dismay over the incident. began to turn on the style after low key wins low drive from 30m out. On 38 minutes disciplinary panel set up by football’s governing “It was just so disappointing really,” Taylor said. over Bosnia-Hercegovina and Iran. Argentina coach was forced body FIFA. Former England captain Alan Shearer, working in Nigeria, who will be appearing in the sec- into an unscripted change of personnel when “The disciplinary committee is working to get a Brazil for the BBC, said FIFA should impose a lengthy ond round for the first time since 1998, are Sergio Aguero limped off to be replaced by decision as early as possible,” FIFA spokeswoman global ban. “I would give him a worldwide ban for as likely to face France next Monday. . Delia Fischer said when asked if a decision would long as I could,” Shearer said. “I feel honored, and happy it’s going our As the interval approached Messi struck a likely be made before Uruguay’s last 16 match “It’s not the first time, it’s not the second time, it’s way, I want to thank the players and the fans peach of a free kick from outside the box, against Colombia on Saturday. the third time- to actually bite someone on a foot- and some of the media,” commented Nigerian only denied by another fine save from Fischer would not speculate on the possible ball pitch in front of millions. It’s unacceptable.” Luis Suarez coach . Enyeama. terms of any punishment, although she confirmed Many in Uruguay defended Suarez, echoing sug- On Messi’s impact he added: “Messi is one But the Lille stopper couldn’t perform the Suarez’s previous offences could be taken into during his club career as well as racially abusing gestions by coach Oscar Tabarez that he was being heck of a player, he’s blessed, but with due same heroics when from a near identical posi- account. Manchester United player Patrice Evra during a unfairly persecuted. respect to Messi there are other calibre play- tion shortly after another Messi free kick “The disciplinary committee can take all ele- game in 2011. But a notable exception was ageing national ers in Argentina that are very strong, but thudded into the near corner for his fourth ments into account as it deems necessary,” she said. The latest flashpoint occurred towards the end hero Alcides Ghiggia, who scored Uruguay’s World Messi is from Jupiter.” goal of the tournament. While Suarez had “a right to be heard”, he was not of Uruguay’s clash with Italy. Replays showed Suarez Cup-winning goal against Brazil in the 1950 tourna- Keshi reported that Ukraine-based for- Musa levelled only two minutes into the expected to travel to Rio from Uruguay’s training biting Chiellini’s shoulder as the two players made ment in Rio. ward Michael Babatunde’s world Cup was second half when, getting the better of base to address any disciplinary hearing, Fischer contact in an off-the-ball incident. “This boy’s clearly not right in the head. That’s probably over after suffering a broken wrist in Argentine defenders Federico Fernandez and said. Suarez was nowhere to be seen early yesterday Chiellini angrily remonstrated with Mexican ref- just not something you do on the pitch,’ said the second half. , he clipped the ball past Romero. as his Uruguay team-mates trained in Natal amid eree Marco Rodriguez, pulling his shirt off his shoul- Ghiggia. “He already did it before in England and His Argentina counterpart Alejandro In an at times breathtaking encounter Rojo the raging controversy. der to show red marks on his neck. now he’s done it again. It’s abnormal. It’s a football Sabella for his part observed: “As we advance bagged his first international goal three min- Suarez, who plays in the English Afterwards, Chiellini told Italian television: “He bit match-not a war or a fight.” we start improving our structure, in general I utes later, knocking the ball home with his for Liverpool, is one of the world’s biggest stars, and me, it’s clear, I still have the mark.” Suarez sought to Uruguayan daily El Observador said the inci- saw improvement today. knee off a corner after Nigeria failed to clear could theoretically be banned for up to 24 games play down the incident in comments to Uruguayan dent was “the return of Suarez’s madness.” Suarez “We’ve got nine points, but we can always ’s header. With his work done under FIFA rules. Fischer declined to say whether television, claiming Chiellini had barged him. “There had tried to improve his image after the earlier get better.” On Messi, who came off with half Sabella rested Messi on the hour, Ricardo any potential punishment of Suarez could extend to are things that happen on the pitch and you should bans, it said, but “against Italy the evil version of an hour to go, he added: “It seemed to me at Alvarez coming on in his place. Musa had ‘hat- club football as well as international football. not make such a big deal out of them,” Suarez said. Suarez reappeared.” With the Suarez controversy 3-2 that we needed Messi to rest - it was trick’ flashing in front of his eyes in the final “It’s the disciplinary committee which decides However the damning video evidence drew dominating the off-field headlines, it was left to agreed beforehand.” The match got off to a quarter of an hour when he cut inside Pablo the scope of any potential sanctions,” she said. almost blanket condemnation on Wednesday Argentina captain Lionel Messi to put the focus stunning start as Messi fired home his third Zabaleta only for the Manchester City defend- Suarez has already received long bans for biting across the globe, with many stating that Suarez back on football. — AFP goal of the finals after two-and-a-half-min- er to produce a superb tackel to deny him the utes-the fastest goal of his career-to finally scoring opportunity. — AFP

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