FIFA defends Suarez biting ban that many call excessive

Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez carries his son Benjamin as he waves to supporters from the balcony of his house in the small coastal town of Solymar, in the outskirts of Montevideo in this June 27, 2014 still image taken from footage provided by Television Nacional Uruguay via Reuters TV. REUTERS/Television Nacional Uruguay (TNU)/Handout via Reuters TV

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - FIFA defended the harsh punishment it handed down to Uruguay striker Luis Suarez for biting an opponent during the World Cup, despite complaints on Friday from his coach, politicians and even the man he bit that the record penalty was excessive.

The 27-year-old striker was expelled from this year's tournament in Brazil and banned from international football for nine competitive games - the longest ever suspension handed out at a World Cup.