Uruguay's President Jose Mujica has slammed FIFA leaders for banning the country's star striker Luis Suarez over his infamous World Cup bite.
Mujica called the four-month ban on all football activity imposed on Suarez for biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini "fascist sanctions".
The president made the comments to a State-run TV sports show which asked Mujica his opinion of the World Cup as he welcomed the defeated Uruguayans on their return from Brazil late Sunday.
"They could have sanctioned him but not with fascist sanctions," said Mujica.
Suarez bit Chiellini during Uruguay's 1-0 win over Italy to secure a place in the last 16. It was his third offence of biting an opponent.
FIFA slapped Suarez with a four-month ban on all football activities, a nine-match international suspension and a 100,000 Swiss francs ($112,000) fine.
Without Suarez, Uruguay lost 2-0 to Colombia on Saturday.
The Suarez sanctions have been harshly criticized in Uruguay. Mujica welcomed Suarez at Montevideo airport when he arrived Friday ahead of the team.
In his weekly radio address on Friday, Mujica said the Suarez punishment "will be an eternal shame" in the history of the World Cup.
