They’ve got it in for Suarez

PEPE REINA has hit out at the FA — claiming they have got it in for Luis Suarez.

The Liverpool striker is considering quitting English football after being hit with a 10-match ban for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic.

His club are waiting for the detailed written report from the FA before deciding whether to appeal against the punishment.

It is not the first time the Uruguayan has sunk his teeth into an opponent, having served a seven-match ban for biting PSV Eindhoven midfielder Otman Bakkal in 2010 before his move from Ajax to Anfield

Reina believes his team-mate, who was hit with an eight-match ban last year for racially abusing Patrice Evra, is being targeted by the English governing body.

He said: “I consider myself a friend of Luis. He is being treated differently.

"I don’t know if it’s because he’s Uruguayan or because he’s had a previous episode like this.

“He knows full well that what he did was wrong but a 10-game ban seems to me absurd, out of proportion and unfair.

“It seems that the people making the decisions have got it in for Luis a little bit. That’s the way I see it.

“I am not justifying what he did but the punishment is very disproportionate.

“He knows he was in the wrong, he knows he has made a mistake but the treatment is completely out of place.

“Those who know Luis know that he is the complete opposite off the pitch, he is a magnificent person and great team-mate.

“But because of the way he plays, he is aggressive and very competitive, he plays like a street player and sometimes the way he is gets him into trouble.”

GNAW VERY CLEVER ... Luis Suarez sinks his teeth into Branislav Ivanovic

Asked if he felt there was xenophobia in England, Reina said: “There is hypocrisy, I don’t know if it’s so much xenophobia, but a different yardstick is used.

“Some players are treated differently to others.”

The ban, pending any successful appeal, means Suarez will not be available for Liverpool until September.

And Reina admits the striker would have no shortage of suitors if he did decide to quit the Premier League.

He added: "Right now he is a Liverpool player.

“He is having a bad time of it and so is his family. He is certainly good enough to fit into any team in the world.”