Suarez bites back at ´cheating´ claims

Liverpool forward Luis Suarez has responded angrily to FIFA vice-president Jim Boyce’s claims that he was guilty of ‘cheating’.

Suarez was heavily criticised for what appeared to be a theatrical dive against Stoke in the Premier League clash last weekend, when he went down dramatically in the dying stages despite no contact from the nearby Steven N’Zonzi.

And Boyce was at the forefront of that criticism, labelling the Uruguayan’s actions as ‘nothing less than cheating’.

But Suarez believes Boyce’s comments are an attempt at getting publicity.

“This guy (Boyce), I’ve no idea who he is,” Suarez said in an interview on Argentine radio.

“I don’t know why he has been talking about me. He certainly can’t be well known and he wants to get publicity.”

Suarez, who played in Uruguay’s 3-0 World Cup qualifying loss against Argentina on Friday, is determined to let his football do the talking and has deflected the recent criticism.

“Let him carry on talking. My job is to play football and to try to do so in the best way possible,” he said.

“What he has said does not affect me. I am not interested in what he has to say. It’s been important to have the support of the Uruguayan FA and the people.

“I have lived through a lot in the past year, with people saying things about me, but I have continued playing and proving my job is what happens on the pitch.”