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25 Jun 2014

Suarez: ‘Worse than Tyson and the return of Dracula’

Fifa opens disciplinary proceedings against Uruguay striker Luis Suarez after Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini accused him of biting. Here is how the world reacted to his latest “bite.”

Reactions were mixed in Uruguay on Tuesday night after Suarez appeared to bite an opponent in a World Cup game against Italy. It came about the 80th minute, when Suarez and Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini got tangled up in front of the Italy goal.

Italian reaction

The referee didn’t see a bite, and no foul was called, despite the Italian player pleading and pulling down his jersey to show a red mark on his shoulder. About a minute later, Uruguay scored the winning goal in a 1-0 game that sent Italy home.

The apparent chomp happened in an instant, but caught by television cameras, it became a worldwide sensation and could lead to Suarez being kicked out of the Cup.

The Italian sports paper Gazzetta dello Sport reported on Italy’s exit from the World Cup with mixed feelings. “Italia fuori, fra morsi e rimorsi,” in English: “Italy out, between bites and remorse.”

Other headlines included: “Suarez, worse than Tyson,” making reference to boxer Mike Tyson, who once famously bit off a piece of Evander Holyfield’s right ear. And “Suarez, Dracula strikes back.”


Social media

No sooner had Suarez appeared to have taken a ‘bite’ out of Chiellini’s shoulder, social media was already sinking its teeth into the Uruguay striker.


Big macs

Companies, including McDonalds and Snickers, also jumped on the story to do real-time social media promos.


Betting

Finally, a football fan won £500 after betting on Suarez to bite somebody at the World Cup. The punter from Norway placed a £3 bet on the striker to take a munch out of somebody in Brazil.

One winner, from Sweden, bet £7 that Suarez would bite, and the 23-year-old substitute teacher is now set for a payout of £1,225 for his wager.

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