Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez quit FIFA post following Luis Suarez bite ban

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez said he will resign from two Fifa posts in protest at the "excessive severity" of Luis Suarez's ban.

Tabarez said Suarez had been made a "scapegoat" following his punishment for a third biting incident.

The 67-year-old says he will leave his roles with Fifa's technical study group and strategic committee.

"It isn't wise to be in an organisation with those who exerted pressure to promote this decision," he said.

Tabarez, addressing a news conference for more than 10 minutes ahead of Uruguay's last-16 encounter with Colombia at the 2014 Fifa World Cup, claimed Suarez's suspension was "more focused on the opinions of the media".

He added: "We know the mistakes he's made, but there's another side to this person. The severity was excessive.

"Many times you forget that the scapegoat is a person, who has rights."

Suarez bit defender Giorgio Chiellini during Uruguay's 1-0 win over Italy on Tuesday.

The Liverpool forward has been banned from all football-related activity for four months, suspended for Uruguay's next nine internationals and fined 100,000 Swiss francs (£65,680).

In April 2013, he was suspended for 10 matches for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic, three years after he was banned for seven matches for doing the same to PSV Eindhoven's Otman Bakkal while playing for Ajax.