Luis Suarez's unprecedented four-month ban from football by Fifa has been met with widespread anger in Uruguay, with captain Diego Lugano calling for his country to remain 'proud' of the controversial Liverpool forward.
Suarez appeared to bite Giorgio Chiellini's shoulder in the clash between Italy and Uruguay on Tuesday – a match which the South Americans went on to win to progress to the World Cup's last 16.
And in a Fifa press conference on Thursday it was announced that Suarez is to serve a ban of nine international matches, as well a blanket ban of four months from 'all footballing activity', for his role in the incident.
Not only does this mean Suarez's World Cup is over – after masterminding England's downfall with two goals in Sao Paulo – but he will be kept out of action with Liverpool until late October.
But Suarez's countrymen have leapt to his defence, with Uruguay FA president Wilmar Valdez confirming that his association will appeal the 'excessive' punishment.
The 27-year-old has also received backing from much of the country's media and his international captain, Lugano, who insists an injustice has been done.
Lugano said: "We'd all like a fairer world, but that world simply does not exist. Those who rule, rule, and the strong ones are the strong ones.
"Keep feeling proud of Suarez, he deserves it.
"Nothing will stop us. We will carry on with humility, union, determination, recognition of mistakes, and with our heads always high."
Suarez, who must also pay a fine of £66,000, is no stranger to controversy.
The attacker served a seven-match ban while at Ajax for sinking his teeth into PSV Eindhoven player Otman Bakkal, before becoming embroiled in a similar incident with Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic in April 2013.
On that occasion Suarez was handed a ten-game ban, but this time he will be forced to sit out of at least nine Premier League matches and three Champions League ties before returning to the field for Liverpool.
And such is the profile of his latest transgression, Uruguayan politicians are also wading into the debate.
Uruguay sports minister Liliam Kechichian said: "This disproportionate sanction hurts us. We now
have to see how we can help the human being (Suarez) and how the team shows the best it has and its love for the country's colours."
Suarez, who won acclaim for his 31 Premier League goals last season, played down his role in the incident with Chiellini immediately after the match in Natal.
He said: "These situations arise on the pitch, I've collided with his shoulder, he drove me a little crazy too but these things happen on the pitch, there's no need to make a story out of it."
