Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger claims Luis Suarez‘s 10-match Liverpool ban was a product of his controversial past.
The Uruguayan striker has accepted a three-match suspension for violent conduct and has until 12pm today to lodge an appeal against an additional seven-match punishment.
And Wenger believes that the 26-year-old’s previous offences have been key in terms of the FA handing out the proposed ban on Suarez.
“I believe history has gone against him and that’s why he has been punished so severely,”Wenger told reporters at his weekly press conference on Friday.
Suarez has been a controversial figure in his eight year career to date. He was banned for seven games whilst playing for Ajax after biting PSV Eindhoven midfielder Otman Bakkal’s shoulder during a match in November 2010.
Since signing for Liverpool for around £23 million, the controversy continued with Suarez handed an eight-match ban and £40,000 fine by the FA for racially abusing Manchester United left-back Patrice Evra in December 2011. During the following fixture in February, Suarez refused to shake Evra’s hand – causing further problems for the South American striker.
And earlier this year, Suarez caused more trouble for Liverpool’s image when his handball directly led to him scoring the winning goal in Liverpool’s 2–1 victory over Mansfield Town in the FA Cup third round.