Liverpool and Uruguay striker Luis Suárez "has apologised" to Italy's Giorgio Chiellini "for the bite that earned him a nine-match and four-month ban from football," according to the BBC. Suárez previously said that "he lost his balance and did not bite Chiellini." In a statement, Suárez said, "The truth is that my colleague Giorgio Chiellini suffered the physical result of a bite in the collision he suffered with me. I deeply regret what occurred. I apologize to Giorgio Chiellini and the entire football family. I vow to the public that there will never again be another incident like this" (BBC, 6/30). In London, Sam Wallace reported Liverpool "had no involvement in the apology, and no prior warning it was coming." Suárez "also acted independently" of the Uruguay FA. It would appear that Suárez and his agent, Pere Guardiola, "were the driving force behind it with a move to Barcelona their primary target this summer" (INDEPENDENT, 6/30).
URUGUAY PRESIDENT BLASTS FIFA: The PA reported Uruguay President José Mujica has called FIFA “a bunch of old sons of b*****s” in another verbal attack on football’s world governing body. Mujica also described the Liverpool striker’s suspension from football as a “fascist ban.” Mujica, who had said previously that Suárez was being punished by FIFA "because of his humble background," continued his "verbal assault" at a reception for the Uruguay team after it returned home from the World Cup following its 2-0 defeat to Colombia in the last 16. Asked what his lasting memory of the World Cup would be, Mujica said, “FIFA are a bunch of old sons of bitches.” The president "then covered his mouth to feign shock at what he had just said," but when asked if he wanted to rectify his comments, he responded, “Publish it” (PA, 6/30). The LONDON TIMES reported Mujica’s latest comments come after Uruguay captain Diego Lugano accused FIFA of an act of “barbarity” that breaches Suárez’s “human rights.” Additionally, coach Óscar Tabárez "echoed recent claims of a perceived Fifa and English-language media campaign against the 27-year-old striker" (LONDON TIMES, 6/30).
KOSOVO OFFERS ASYLUM: In London, Mark Ogden reported Suárez "has been offered a shock escape" from his four-month worldwide FIFA ban by Kosovo Superleague side Hajvalia. Barcelona is "expected to pursue a move for the 27-year-old, despite his stringent suspension." But the Catalan giants "now face a rival for Suarez's signature with Hajvalia prepared to hand the player a chance to play during his ban as a result of Kosovo yet to become full members of Fifa and therefore unaffected by the governing body's regulations." Hajvalia is "willing to pay" Liverpool £25,000 ($42,000) and give Suárez a salary of £1,200 ($2,050) per month "if he accepts the offer of playing in the tiny Balkan state" (TELEGRAPH, 6/30).
