CP28923492
A child shows his support for Uruguay player Luis Suarez, by wearing toy plastic vampire teeth, as he awaits the arrival of Suarez at Carrasco International Airport in the outskirts of Montevideo, Uruguay, Thursday, June 26, 2014. The Uruguay forward, widely regarded as one of the best players in the world, was banned by FIFA from all football for four months on Thursday for biting an Italian opponent in an incident that marred the team\'s victory and progression to the second round. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)

Uruguayan fans wait fruitlessly at airport for Suarez to return after ban from World Cup

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay – Several hundred Uruguayans gathered at a Montevideo airfield Thursday night waiting on the expected return of soccer player Luis Suarez after his banning from the World Cup for biting an Italian player.

But the Uruguayan Football Federation announced that Suarez was still in Brazil. The statement on its official twitter account gave no explanation for why he had not left.

Uruguayan President Jose Mujica had been at the international airport at one point, but his office said he returned home because Suarez’s flight had been delayed.

After the report of the flight delay, the crowd of about 1,000 fans was moved from the airport’s terminal to an adjacent air force base to await Suarez’s arrival.

They waved the national flag and carried banners criticizing the international soccer governing body FIFA for the suspension of Suarez for four months for biting Giorgio Chiellini during a match Wednesday.

Uruguay will now be without its best player for its second-round match against Colombia on Saturday.

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

Create a free account

The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.

Related Articles