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Uruguay's President Jose Mujica weighed into the global controversy over footballer Luis Suarez on Wednesday, saying it was unfair to judge him retrospectively for biting an Italian player when other incidents went unreviewed.
"We didn't choose him to be a philosopher, or a mechanic, or to have good manners - he's a great player," said Mujica, echoing the protective attitude towards the brilliant but volatile striker felt around his homeland.
"I didn't see him bite anyone. But they sure can bash each other with kicks and chops," he added to reporters.
Suarez, one of the world's best forwards whose team is in the last 16 at the World Cup, is awaiting global soccer body FIFA's judgement on Tuesday's incident when TV footage showed his mouth on the shoulder of Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini .
Luis Suarez: His controversial career in picturesShow all 28 1 /28Luis Suarez: His controversial career in pictures Luis Suarez: His controversial career in pictures August 2006 Heads to Europe to join Groningen from Uruguayan side Nacional. Scores 10 goals in 29 league games.
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Luis Suarez: His controversial career in pictures August 2007 Joins Dutch giants Ajax from fellow Eredivisie side Groningen for €7.5 million. Finishes 2009-10 season with an incredible 49 goals in just 48 games.
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Luis Suarez: His controversial career in pictures February 2007 High followed by low. Suarez makes his international debut for Uruguay against Colombia but was sent-off in the final minutes after being shown a second yellow card for dissent.
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Luis Suarez: His controversial career in pictures November 2007 Fined by Ajax along with Albert Luque after an altercation in the dressing room at half-time in the match against fierce rivals Feyenoord.
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Luis Suarez: His controversial career in pictures July 2009: Named Ajax captain by manager Martin Jol after team meeting. Named Ajax captain by manager Martin Jol after team meeting.
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Luis Suarez: His controversial career in pictures May 2010 Finishes season as Eredivisie top scorer with 35 league goals in 33 games. Named Ajax Player of the Year for the second straight time and Dutch Footballer of the Year for 2009-10 season.
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Luis Suarez: His controversial career in pictures July 2010 During the 2010 World Cup quarter-finals, Suarez prevented Ghana's Dominic Adiyiah's goal-bound effort with a deliberate handball on the line in the final-minute and was subsequently sent off. A penalty was awarded but missed by Asamoah Gyan with footage showing an elated Suarez celebrating. Uruguay eventually went through following a penalty shoot-out to reach semi-finals. Became a national hero
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Luis Suarez: His controversial career in pictures November 2010 Suarez was handed a seven-match ban by the Dutch FA and fined by his club for biting PSV midfielder Otman Bakkal during an Eredivisie match.
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Luis Suarez: His controversial career in pictures January 2011 Moves to Liverpool from Ajax for £22.8m. Suarez scored 111 goals in 159 games for Ajax. He makes an immediate impact against Stoke on his debut on February 2 as he comes off the bench to score in front of the Kop in a 2-0 win. He finishes 2010-11 season with four goals in 13 games as Liverpool finish sixth.
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Luis Suarez: His controversial career in pictures July 2011 Wins Copa America with Uruguay. Named player of the tournament.
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Luis Suarez: His controversial career in pictures October 2011 Involved in a tackle with Everton's Jack Rodwell and goes down with apparent minimal contact. Rodwell was then sent off.
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Luis Suarez: His controversial career in pictures October 2011 Suarez was alleged to have racially abused Manchester United's Patrice Evra during a Premier League match. Suarez was later found guilty by an independent regulatory commission and banned for eight matches and fined £40,000.
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Luis Suarez: His controversial career in pictures December 2011 Was seen making an offensive gesture towards Fulham fans. Handed a further one-match ban for the gesture.
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Luis Suarez: His controversial career in pictures February 2012 United and Liverpool met again at Old Trafford, but more controversy followed as Suarez refused to shake Evra's hand before kick-off.
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Luis Suarez: His controversial career in pictures February 2012 Wins his first trophy with Liverpool after 3-2 win on penalties against Cardiff City in the Carling Cup following 2-2 draw. Liverpool finish the season in eight place with Suarez scoring 11 league goals. In August he signs a new long-term contract.
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Luis Suarez: His controversial career in pictures August 2012 Named as Uruguay captain for Summer Olympics. Suarez fails to score as Uruguay are eliminated in first round.
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Luis Suarez: His controversial career in pictures September 2012 Suarez scores a stunning hat-trick as Liverpool thrash Norwich 5-2 at Carrow Road.
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Luis Suarez: His controversial career in pictures October 2012 Celebrated a goal against Everton by diving in front of Toffees boss David Moyes who had earlier claimed that "divers" such as Suarez were putting fans off the English game.
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Luis Suarez: His controversial career in pictures January 2013 More controversy as a clear handball preceded his winning goal for Liverpool as they defeat Mansfield Town 2-1.
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Luis Suarez: His controversial career in pictures March 2013 Suarez punches Gonzalo Jara during Uruguay's World Cup qualification defeat against Chile. The referee missed the incident.
Luis Suarez: His controversial career in pictures March 2013 Suarez bites the arm of Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic at Anfield. Liverpool fined the defender before he was banned for 10 matches
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Luis Suarez: His controversial career in pictures May 2013 After days of hints over an exit, during a press conference in Uruguay Suarez confirms he wishes to leave Liverpool, blaming press intrusion for he desire to go. Despite strong interest from Arsenal, Liverpool refuse to let him leave
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Luis Suarez: His controversial career in pictures December 2013 Suarez performs the ultimate U-turn on his push for a summer exit by signing a new long-term contract to remain at Anfield. "I am so proud to represent them and go out to do my best for them every time I pull on the shirt," he says.
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Luis Suarez: His controversial career in pictures January 2014 Suarez goes down easily after Aston Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan comes charging out of his goal, with referee Jon Moss giving the penalty
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Luis Suarez: His controversial career in pictures May 2013 Suarez hides his face after he is left in tears following the 3-3 draw with Crystal Palace that cost Liverpool the Premier League title
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Luis Suarez: His controversial career in pictures May 2014 But Suarez does secure silverware as he wins the Golden Boot via his 31 Premier League goals, as well as the PFA and Football Writers' Player of the Year awards after he appears to have ditched his controversial ways.
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Luis Suarez: His controversial career in pictures May 2014 Suarez leaves hospital in Uruguay after having surgery on his injured meniscus in his right knee just a month before the World Cup begins
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Luis Suarez: His controversial career in pictures June 2014 Suarez is accused of biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini during Uruguay's 1-0 victory in the World Cup
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The Liverpool player has been punished twice in the past for biting, and also for racism. He earned notoriety at the last World Cup for a handball on the line against Ghana, denying the Africans a certain goal and spot in the semi-finals.
Uruguay President Jose Mujica has defended Suarez (Getty Images) Many Uruguayans believe the global reaction against him, though, is over-the-top and hypocritical.
"In football, I was taught that you obey what the referee says," Mujica said.
Chiellini claims he has been bitten by Suarez, who is holding his teeth in pain "If we're going to take decisions in football based on what TV says, then there are loads of penalties and handballs you'd have to give that weren't given, so bad luck."
Uruguay captain Diego Lugano , at a news conference in the Brazilian city of Natal after a training session, was equally protective of Suarez and tackled one English journalist head on.
"It's clear that Uruguay's triumph doesn't make you happy, it's obvious on your face," said Lugano.
"I understand that the figure of Suarez sells because he's very charismatic ... I'm calm because I know that Luis will pick himself up and is going to have success in the World Cup. That's what people fear. They're right to fear that."
Reuters
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