Luis Suarez has been 'treated like a murderer', says ex-teammate Iago Aspas

Aspas believes Suarez's punishment is far too harsh

Iago Aspas has criticised the ban handed to Luis Suarez (GETTY IMAGES)

Luis Suarez has been ‘treated like a murderer’, according to his former Liverpool team-mate Iago Aspas.

Suarez sparked controversy once again by biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini on the shoulder during the World Cup.

Suarez has since been handed a lengthy ban from football but Aspas believes the star striker has been treated too harshly.

The 26-year-old, who has been sent out on loan to Sevilla after an ineffective first season at Anfield, spoke on Spanish radio about the incident.

Aspas said: "They are treating Luis like a murderer and not like a footballer."

While he accepted that Suarez had to be punished, the former Celta Vigo forward said that to ban the Uruguayan from all football related activity was excessive.

He continued: "There are murderers who pay less [for what they have done]. To not let him be presented [by Barcelona], to train or to enter the stadium is too much."