Uruguay’s Suarez out for Venezuela game

BUENOS AIRES - Striker Luis Suarez will miss South American champions Uruguay’s crucial World Cup qualifier in Venezuela, the upstarts threatening to deny them a place in next year’s finals in Brazil.

Suarez, who has scored eight goals in the qualifying campaign, picked up a second booking during Tuesday’s 2-0 loss to Chile in Santiago and is suspended for Uruguay’s June 11 visit to Venezuela.

However, Suarez got away with punching Chile’s Gonzalo Jara as they tussled in the penalty area at a corner and could face further disciplinary action if FIFA acts on the incident which Argentine referee Nestor Pitana missed.

A spokesman for South American body Conmebol said any such incident would only be dealt with by FIFA should it be mentioned in the fourth official’s report.

Suarez, often embroiled in controversy playing for English club Liverpool, was booked in September’s 1-1 draw with Ecuador in Montevideo during a run in which Uruguay have taken two points from six matches, a paltry return for the 2011 Copa America winners and 2010 World Cup semifinalists.

“What we have closest is a fight for fifth place so that’s why the match with Venezuela has defining circumstances,” Uruguay coach Oscar Washington Tabarez said. Reuters