Uruguay furious over Suarez slur

Northern Irishman Boyce, Britain's representative on FIFA, described Suarez's clear dive for Liverpool against Stoke City as "nothing less than cheating" and that simulation was a "cancer" in the game.

That comment has angered both Suarez, who suggested Boyce was out for publicity, and the Uruguayan FA, which has sent a letter to FIFA asking for it to withdraw its confidence in Boyce.

"We understand that this kind of statement, coming from a person who holds the position of vice-president of FIFA, with specific reference to a football player and linking their actions to a disease that is a scourge on humanity, are at odds with the principles world football governing," read the letter, which was signed by the organisation's president Sebastian Bauza and general secretary Anibal de Olivera.

"The code of ethics of FIFA, in its article three, clearly states: 'Officers should be aware of the importance of their role and the obligations and responsibilities that entails.'

"Deliberately ignoring his position and role, Mr Boyce has referred specifically to a football player, encouraging and provoking hostility towards him."

The letter also included a list of six steps the AUF want FIFA to take, including withdrawing their confidence in Boyce, referring him to the ethics committee and expressing its regret to Suarez.

The player himself was equally unimpressed with Boyce's comments.

The 25-year-old was quoted by The Sun as saying: "This guy, I've no idea who he is.

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

"Let him carry on talking. My job is to play football and to try to do so in the best way possible."

Boyce was talking earlier this week as he called for football associations to take retrospective action against players who dive.

Boyce told Press Association Sport: "I have seen several incidents recently, and I watched the latest Suarez incident two or three times, and to me it is nothing less than a form of cheating.

"It is becoming a little bit of a cancer within the game and I believe if it is clear to everyone that it is simulation then that person is trying to cheat and they should be severely punished for that.

"It can be dealt with retrospectively by disciplinary committees, and it is done so in some associations, and I believe that is the correct thing to do."