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Connect the World
FIFA Opens Disciplinary Hearing For Luis Suarez; A Father's Journey To Bring Jihadist Son Home; Iraqi Prime Minister Refuses To Step Down; African Start-Up: Inzuki Design; Etihad Buys 49 Percent Of Alitalia
Aired June 25, 2014 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BECKY ANDERSON, HOST: Rejecting reconciliation, a defiant Iraqi prime minister rules out forming a more inclusive emergency government.
Also ahead, a lifeline for Alitalia. Why Abu Dhabi's Etihad is spreading its wings deeper into Europe by buying up almost half of the
struggling Italian airline.
And FIFA opens disciplinary proceedings against Uruguay's Luis Suarez accused of biting an opponent.
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is Connect the World with Becky Anderson.
ANDERSON: A very good evening from here. It is 7:00 in the evening.
We begin in western Iraq where there are reports that Syrian war planes have attacked targets in Anbar Province. Apologies for the noise
behind me. The area is a stronghold of the Sunni militant group ISIS. CNN seeking a comment from the Syrian government in Damascus.
Now Iraqi officials in Baghdad have had little to say as well. However, the head of the Anbar provisional council says at least 57
civilians were killed and more than 100 wounded.
Now he describes how bombs dropped by planes with Syrian markings hit fuel stations and markets in three border towns.
Well, meanwhile, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki called on Iraqis to continue a holy war on terror, accusing Iraq's neighbors of collaborating
with the militants.
Well, our senior international correspondent Nic Robertson joining us now from Baghdad.
And Nuri al-Maliki clearly not prepared to take orders, either from the U.S. or others on the ground or in the region saying no to a unity
government at this point. Let's carry on as is.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERANTIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, it's kind of surprising, Becky, because just two days ago U.S. Secretary of State John
Kerry thought he had an agreement from Nuri al-Maliki to form a government that was going to be inclusive, that was going to represent the needs of
all Iraqis, that Nuri al-Maliki would stick to the constitutional timetable that calls for a new -- a new prime minister to be announced within about a
month-and-a-half from now.
So what he said today seemed to strike back at that. He wasn't very conciliatory. He really essentially said that the Sunnis and the Kurds
have conspired against him and against the country by backing the -- by backing the ISIS forces, you know the Kurds for taking the contested oil
rich town of Kirkuk, the Sunni tribes and the Sunni politicians for backing ISIS in the north and the west of the country.
So really you don't get words of conciliation from him there.
And he went on to say that if there was a government of national salvation that in itself would be a coup against the constitution. This is
what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NURI AL-MALIKI, PRIME MINISTER OF IRAQ (through translator): It is no secret to all Iraqis the dangerous goal behind the call for the formation
of a national salvation government, as they call it. It is simply an attempt by those who rebel against the constitution to end the young
democratic process and confiscate the opinions of the voters and circumvent the constitutional merits.
The call for the formation of a national salvation government is a coup against the constitution and the political process.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: Now, Nuri al-Maliki may feel emboldened in the upcoming political process, because his party garnered more votes than any other
party in the recent elections. And he hasn't made it clear yet whether or not he intends to stand for high office of any description or even try and
chase the prime minister's position.
But from what we heard today, it doesn't seem like he's changed a whole lot, Becky.
ANDERSON: Can we confirm, meantime, these reports on the ground that Syrian war planes have attacked targets to the west in Anbar province with
a number, a significant numbers of deaths and injuries?
ROBERTSON: Well, western sources are telling us that, yes, they believe that these were Syrian aircraft, that Iraqis on the ground who saw
the aircraft believe -- they believe that they were seeing Syrian fighters jets as well. And that what the tales of devastation and destruction that
we're hearing -- al Qaim where a marketplace was hit and other locations, absolutely devastating.
Women and children, civilians among the casualties, many of them missing limbs.
But it's something that the Syrians are now saying that they didn't do. The Iraqi government is not talking about it. And the western sources
are saying they're not clear at this stage whether or not there was some sort of political agreement between -- between Damascus and Baghdad to
allow this to happen.
But it is sort of surprising, because ISIS has obviously been on the ground in Syria for some time making problems for the Assad government yet
over the recent months the Syrian aircraft have not been targeting in their sort of strongholds in places like Raqqah in the southeast of Syria that is
very obviously a big target, a solid target that you would imagine the Syrian government could move against at a time of its choosing.
Certainly now it seems to be targeting places. And now it's in Iraq too. It just -- it does certainly foment anger in the Sunni west of the
country. And it's not going to do anything to help stabilize the current situation, Becky.
ANDERSON: Yeah. I'm sure you're absolutely correct.
All right, Nic Robertson is on the ground for you in Baghdad.
We're going to have more on the crisis in Iraq coming up later on Connect the World with me, Becky Anderson.
Nic's report on the security in Iraq -- he takes on a road trip out of Baghdad to see just how far he could go before it got too dangerous.
Also this hour, a report on the concerns in the global oil market about just how all this violence will impact oil production in Iraq.
And Iraqis already panicking about a shortage of supplies. There have been long lines at petrol stations in major cities.
Well, British Prime Minister David Cameron has apologized once again for hiring Andy Coulson as his head of communications. Coulson was found
guilty on Tuesday of conspiring to hack phones when he was the editor of the tabloid News of the World. But the jury today failed to reach a
verdict on one final charge against him.
Well, Erin McLaughlin is outside 10 Downing Street and joins us now live with the very latest from there.
And, Erin, not a comfortable day for David Cameron today at Prime Minister's questions. A lot of we told you so. Exactly what did he say?
ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Becky
Well, Prime Minister David Cameron responded to some of the questions from the opposition by saying that many of their questions had already been
addressed during the course of an earlier inquiry, the Levison inquiry.
The oppositions questions include, of course, why he took the decision to hire Andy Coulson in 2007 in the wake of the original hacking scandal.
Coulson had resigned from his position of News of the World.
Opposition also questioning why the prime minister decided to stand by Andy Coulson through the course of the immediate hacking scandal up until
the point of 2011 when Coulson resigned from his position as the head of Downing Street communication. David Cameron once again taking the
opportunity today to apologize for those decisions which he at this point recognizes and says were wrong.
Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID CAMERON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: I am sorry. This was the wrong decision, but I think it's right that we've had a public inquiry in
this country and it's right that we have proper investigations. Yesterday once again showed that no one is above the law in our country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCLAUGHLIN: Apologies aside, the opposition here in this country still pushing for further explanation.
Now in terms of the trial itself, as you mentioned the jury has been discharged after failing to reach a verdict on two outstanding counts
against Coulson and another former News of the World reporter. Those charges relating to allegations of conspiracy to commit misconduct while in
office, allegations that police were -- that they had conspired to improperly bribe police to gain access to royal phone directories, charges
which Coulson and he other former News of the World employee have denied.
Now we understand that the judge in this case will decide on Monday whether or not Coulson should be retried on those charges.
ANDERSON: Erin Mclaughlin outside Number 10 for you today.
Uruguay striker Luis Suarez could be kicked out of the World Cup if he's found guilty of biting one of his opponents. FIFA has now opened an
investigation into this incident. It happened late in Uruguay's clash with Italy on Tuesday. Defender Giorgio Chiellini says Suarez bit him during a
brief tussle on the pitch.
Suarez himself denies this, saying he merely collided with the Italian.
Let's get to CNN's Alex Thomas in Rio de Janeiro for what is the very latest on this controversy.
What's the football governing body FIFA say?
ALEX THOMAS, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: As little as it can, Becky.
We have farcical scenes at the Maracana Stadium behind me here as they held their daily media briefing and trying to talk about the latest in TV
technology. Any questions, they said at then, complete silence until bright spark lifted their hand and said in ultra high definition, would be
able to see Suarez's bite more clearly? And so it went on, everyone trying to illicit a little bit more information out of FIFA's governing body,
though they said they won't say anything until their disciplinary committee have met to discuss whether Luis Suarez should be banned for apparently
biting Giorgio Chiellini on the shoulder.
This is what -- soldier is almost a war, wasn't it. This is what the player himself had to say after the game.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LUIS SUAREZ, URUGUAY NATIONAL TEAM PLAYER (through translator): I don't know what they have asked our coach about. The only thing I know is
that those are occurrences that happen on the pitch. I just collided with his shoulder. They are just casual incidences that occur during the soccer
game.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): When they talk about FIFA analyzing the play and may have a resolution by tomorrow, what do you
think?
SUAREZ: I just found out about this right now. I didn't know anything. If we are going to analyze every collision in a soccer game,
that would be complicated.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
THOMAS: What Suarez was saying there, Becky, is that this is the normal hustle and bustle you see in any top level game. Reuters news
agency have spoken to Suarez's lawyer who seems to have confirmed they will appeal against these allegations rather than just holding up their hands to
it and hoping for leniency.
It's a risky gamble, because FIFA can throw the book at Suarez and his World Cup is probably over.
And we understand as well that the court of arbitration for sport is on standby to hear any appeal from Uruguay should Suarez be punished as
quickly as possible, because they need to get this resolved before the round of 16 game.
Lost in amongst all of this, Becky, if of course the fact that Uruguay beat Italy 1-0. And they go through to the knockout stages at Italy's
expense.
ANDERSON: Correct.
All right, Alex, thank you for that.
The alleged bite, I've got to say, went viral on social media extremely quickly. You know that, Alex. I know it. I was watching the
game. I'm watching my Twitter feed.
We're going to show you how fans are reacting with some poking fun at the star footballer's expense. That's coming up on Connect the World with
me, Becky Anderson
And a unique perspective of the security on the ground in Iraq. We're going to take a road trip outside the capital city just to see how Baghdad
is being protected. That's up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: This is Connect the World with me, Becky Anderson. 15 minutes past 7:00 here in the UAE. Welcome back.
Taking a look at our top story once again for you. And news just come into CNN. Syria's Sanaa News Agency says reports about Syrian air force
strikes within Iraq are, and I'm quoting here, malicious and completely baseless.
We started this hour telling you that local officials in western Iraq told CNN Syrian planes attacked three Iraqi border towns. They said at
least 57 civilians were killed and more than 100 wounded when bombs fell in markets and fuel stations.
Well, Iraq's government has not commented on the attacks. But again, now hearing through the Syrian media that Damascus is denying any strikes.
Well, meanwhile Iraqi military officials say they have regained control of two key border crossings into Syria and Jordan.
Well, with every passing day, ISIS fighters are said to be getting closer to Baghdad. Senior international correspondent Nic Robertson
traveled outside the capital for you to get a glimpse at the defenses or not.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTSON: Just west of Baghdad, Iraqi army soldiers celebrate a rare victory. Bodies are draped over the hood of their humvee. Look at those
ISIS, we kill them, those (inaudible) ISIS, one of them shouts. Not far away, more Iraqi soldiers battle the militants.
Amid claims and counterclaims of who controls what, the government insisting it has retrenched and refocused its forces to keep ISIS out of
the capital.
Inside Baghdad, we find thinly manned checkpoints, no heavy weapons in sight, a solitary armored personnel carrier is all.
We're driving out to the west of Baghdad. The army has drawn a line in the sand there to stop the ISIS advance coming in from the west of the
country. But it's far from clear that they can do it. The (inaudible) has been collapsing. There's been such a high desertion rate.
In better days, this main artery of the capital would have been clogged with traffic. We see only occasional army trucks on the road, no
tanks or big guns.
Baghdad airport is just over there. I can see two helicopters flying over there. That's one of the targets for ISIS. This road that we're on
right now, a few years ago this is where U.S. troops were targeted regularly. We've now gone beyond the outskirts of the city limits here.
We're in the district called Abu Ghraib.
Driving on, we see a few roadside vendors, the shabby remnants of once thriving market stalls struggling to find buyers on the fringes of what is
becoming a wasteland.
This is as far as we can go. We can't go to the next checkpoint. We've got to turn around. It's too dangerous to go any further right now.
Precisely what dangers we'd meet if we drove on are unclear.
But images like these posted on the web by ISIS give a hint. Iraqi soldiers in civilian clothes, shown with their IDs, fear on faces about
what's coming, well founded. The next frames show the men being executed.
Such images clearly having a chilling effect on Iraqi troops. And most soldiers on this highway would rather not drive on to find out what ISIS is
really like.
Driving back into Baghdad, hitting the city limit, security somewhat tighter. 20 minutes to get our papers checked, longer than the passport
control at the international airport.
But still, no heavy weapons visible. If ISIS gets this far to the edge of Baghdad, with such a thin military presence in their way, no
telling where ISIS will stop.
Nic Robertson, CNN, Baghdad, Iraq.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, the Baiji oil refinery in northern Iraq is the biggest in the country. It produces some 170,000 barrels a day. I'll give
you some context for that here in a moment. There's a major concern that the violence, of course, could hit production.
Our emerging markets editor John Defterios who has forgotten more about the oil markets than I will ever know here to talk to us about this.
There was certainly initial panic in the markets. Just how is this insurgency viewed?
JOHN DEFTERIOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's interesting. We saw the knee jerk reaction which took place over a 10 day window when the
insurgency started and we got up to a nine month high with North Sea round up to $115 a barrel. That is like a 15 percent risk premium since the
start of the year because of all this uncertainty.
But the real question now, Becky, is what happens? Does Iraq stay together or not. The markets kind of betting we could see a splitting up
with the Kurds in the north, the Sunnis taking the central -- maybe going down to Baghdad, which raises a huge question over power and control.
But most of the oil in this country sits in the south in the Shiite region in Basra, so there's a lot at stake here.
Two-thirds of the reserves sitting in the south with Iraq in the north.
But key questions in the near-term Baiji, the refinery. We're already seeing gas shortages there. So domestic pressure is on the ground. The
Kurds have taken over Kirkuk. It's not clear how long they'll be able to hold on to that oil facility as well.
ANDERSON: John, just how big a threat to existing production is this insurgency? What's the reality on the ground at this point?
DEFTERIOS: Right now, we saw Iraq get to 3.6 million barrels a day. That was a 35 year high. That was in February. Through this conflict,
they've lost 300,000 barrels a day.
So for the oil market this is not a very big deal.
ANDERSON: Contextualize that for me? How does that compare with other big producers?
DEFTERIOS: Well, for example, we have here in the UAE producing 3 million barrels a day and they want to get to 3.5 million barrels a day,
the same level of Kuwait.
But the real power struggle here is not now at 3.3, 3.6 million barrels a day, it's what Iraq wants to do over the next 10 to 15 years.
They want to challenge Saudi Arabia here in the Middle East and produce 12 million barrels a day. So the real fight in Iraqi here, now
it's Sunni, Shia, Kurd. But behind the scenes there's a big battle for black oil here. and control of the energy market over the next 10 to 15
years.
And don't forget, Iran sits on massive reserves as well. So the other Shiite confrontation, Iran with Nuri al-Maliki with his backing from Iran
right now in Tehran trying to move into take the oil market.
You're going to see the resistance from the UAE, from Kuwait and especially Saudi Arabia.
ANDERSON: And Saudi -- very briefly -- have jumped in and said that they can fill any gaps at this point.
DEFTERIOS: There is no panic in the energy market. Saudi Arabia can get up to almost 12 million barrels a day. They're at 9.5 million barrels
a day. Here in the UAE they can boost production. And so can Kuwait
In fact, they were worried about Iraq producing too much and Iran producing too much. So it almost solves a problem near-term for Saudi
Arabia. Although the oil market is not reflecting that now.
ANDERSON: Interesting stuff.
John, always -- oh, no, absolutely, it makes sense. Thank you.
Live from Abu Dhabi, this is Connect the World with me Becky Anderson.
Coming up, turning a passion into a profession. We're going to show you the challenges of one entrepreneur who is creating a fashion brand in a
country with a very troubled past. African Start-Up Is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: I'm going to get you inside the Global Exchange. This point where we introduce you to the people and places paving the way
forward in the world's emerging markets.
The made in Rwanda fashion brand, it's not one that immediately brings quality to mind, but the owner of design house -- one design house at
least, is hoping to change all of that.
Meet Teta Isibo in this week's African Start-Up.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TETA ISIBO, FOUNDER, INZUKI DESIGNS: Hello, I'm Teta Isibo. And this is Inzuki designs in Kigali, Rwanda. You're welcome. Please come in and
have a look.
Inzuki designs is a random fashion brand specializing in jewelry, accessories and interior decor that's all handmade here in Rwanda.
Our products are a fusion of traditional craftsmanship skills and contemporary design.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Teta started Inzuki Designs in 2010 when she resigned from her land management job at turned to her passion for fashion
and design.
ISIBO: It really started as a hobby. I've always loved to create and design my own stuff. So it started as one pair of earrings that I designed
and asked an artisan to have made for me. And my friends all loved them. And some friends started placing orders and then friends of friends. So, it
gradually evolved through the years from a hobby to an actual full-time business.
So the earrings is really how our whole story began. We have them in lots of different colors and patterns and designs.
This is what we're most famous for, really. This is how our whole story began.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: With Inzuki Design, Teta found a way to involve local artisans and craftsman to work with her.
ISIBO: Once I've been inspired and once I have an idea for a design, then I'll figure out which (inaudible) or which artisan group is best
(inaudible) to make that kind of product, because we work with different ones and they all specialize in different (inaudible) and different kind of
designs.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is these local artisans that Teta believes bring a touch of authenticity to her products.
But where did the inspiration for the name Inzuki Designs come from?
ISIBO: Inzuki actually means bees. It's a super fierce attitude. So a lot like these, because they give honey, so they have that sweet aspect,
but you can't really mess with them, because they will sting you. So that's where Inzuki comes from.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Starting her business from scratch wasn't without its challenges.
ISIBO: There are definitely a few things that I didn't think about, you know, like the actual running of a business. That came with time. In
the beginning I just like, oh, I want to, you know, create beautiful products and sell them. But I didn't really think about the whole admin
angle and all that.
It's not easy leaving the security of employment for the uncertainty that comes with the start-up.
When you find something that you love to do and you feel you're good at doing, then you kind of just have to take that leap and, you know, hope
for the best.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Sun goes down here in the UAE. This is Connect the World with me Becky Anderson. The top stories for you this hour here on CNN.
FIFA investigating Uruguay striker Luis Suarez for allegedly biting an Italian defender in Tuesday's World Cup match. Suarez denies he bit
Giorgio Chiellini, but he has bitten players twice before and could face a multi-match suspension.
Jurors in the UK phone hacking trial have gone home. They were unable to decide on two remaining charges against this man, the prime minister's
former communications director. Andy Coulson was found guilty on Tuesday of conspiring to hack phones when he was editor of the tabloid News of the
World.
Iraq's prime minister has made a televised speech that could inflame the religious divisions in Iraq even more. Nuri al-Maliki accused Iraq's
neighbors of collaborating with ISIS militants and appealed to his Shia constituency for support. He ruled out forming an national emergency
government. Syria's Sanaa news agency, meanwhile, denies Syrian war planes attacked three border towns inside Iraq. The report calls the reports
malicious and completely baseless. Local officials in Anbar Province tell CNN the planes had markings of the Syrian flag. They say at least 57
civilians were killed and more than 100 were wounded.
Well, ISIS and other militant Islamic groups are looking beyond the Middle East for new recruits. One man made a very dangerous trip to Syria
to find his son. And in this exclusive report, he shared his story with CNN's Atika Shubert.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: As a teenager, Yeyoun Bontinck (ph) danced in this music video. But within a year, he went from
this to this -- a young Muslim convert preaching in the streets of Antwerp.
DIMINITRY BONTINCK, FATHER: He started to become very religious, always praying. He don't wear western clothes anymore, he only wear
jalaba. So we really see the signs of radicalization.
SHUBERT: Then Yeyoun (ph) said he was leaving to study in Cairo. But when he missed his younger sister's birthday, his father knew his son was
actually in Syria.
BONTINCK: On that day, no phone call, no message from the brother. That day I know 100 percent something is going wrong.
SHUBERT: Bontinck began to search the Internet for any sign of his son.
BONTINCK: I discover a video from television station. Inside that video I see friends from him, from this radical Muslim organization, from
this city from Antwerp. They even speak the language from Antwerp. So when I saw that, know that my son is there.
SHUBERT: Agains the advice of police and his lawyer, Bontinck decided to go after Yeyoun (ph) himself. He kept a video diary that he gave to
CNN.
His search began in the north of Syria with the free lawyers of Aleppo.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You sure (inaudible) your son? He said it doesn't seem.
SHUBERT: The trail eventually leads to Syria's Islamic extremists.
In this video, Bontinck seems to sympathize with them trying on their weapon, but also capturing extraordinary moments, a jihadi fighter sits
down to play a grand piano in an abandoned luxury home, scenes that change his views on Islam and the Syrian conflict.
BONTINCK: The only something I know about Muslim and Islam and it's like people that kind of civilization who cannot live in peace.
SHUBERT: But you changed your mind.
BONTINCK: I changed my mind, yeah.
SHUBERT: How, why?
BONTINCK: Why? Because I've been in Syria. And I have meet so many Muslim people groups -- fighting groups like Jabhat al-Nusra with al Qaeda
and they are terrorists and I'm not a Muslim. And if you see what these people done for me. They (inaudible) slipping food. They search for me
everywhere.
SHUBERT: But Bontinck did not succeed at first. It took nearly a year and two trips before he could track down Yeyoun (ph). He says he
found him months later with the Islamist group Jabhat al-Nusra.
BONTINCK: They beat me. They almost killed me. They took all my clothes out. They put a cap on me. They hide me, because they suspect me
-- oh, you are CIA. But at the end, they believe me and they let me go.
And this same leader, he let my son return volunteer.
SHUBERT: What was it like when you saw your son?
BONTINCK: We were crying, like -- I never cried before when he was missing when I don't know anything. But the first physical contact I hold
him like a small baby. It's like children who lost the path, you know, the way.
SHUBERT: He was release without charge, now monitored by Belgian police, but barred from speaking to the press.
He is also facing charges of recruiting jihadists to fight in Syria due in court at the end of June.
His father insists his son is innocent, but it's easy to see where Yeyoun (ph) gets his taste for adventure and perhaps an inflated sense of
his own importance.
BONTINCK: I have eaten with leaders of Jabhat al-Nusra, with (inaudible) they pray for me. They respect me. And why, because for them
it was amazing, amazing that a father from the west, who is not a Muslim, tried to risk his life to come to a war country to look for his own son, a
son who is one of them, who become a mujahadeen. So I was a hero for them. I was a hero for them.
SHUBERT: A hero, or an adventurer, a lost child or a jihadi. Many questions unanswered, like father like son.
Atika Shubert, CNN, Antwerp, Belgium.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LU STOUT: World Cup fans are having a field day with Uruguay's Luis Suarez, at least on social media. They have compared him to everything
from Jaws to Dracula after being accused of biting Italy's Giorgio's Chiellini.
Our Jeanne Moos now with a look at just some of the reactions online. Have a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's called the world cup but maybe it should be the world plate if players are going to eat each
other.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Delicious controversy at the World Cup and by delicious -- I mean, it must taste good or why would this guy keep biting
people?
MOOS: Uraguay's Luis Suarez appeared to sink his teeth into an Italian opponent in blue.
LUIS SUAREZ, URUGUAY: I just collided with his shoulder. They're just casual incidents that happen during a soccer game.
MOOS: He did it discreetly, not the way vampire Tom Cruz bared his fangs when he pounced on Brad Pitt.
After the apparent fight, Suarez grabbed his teeth, Giorgio Chiellini bared his shoulder, showing off the bite mark. The referees didn't call any
penalty.
Megastar Suarez has been in trouble for biting opponents twice before.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Amongst the top five players on the planet, yet, he can't get into his head this is a game played with your feet, not with your
mouth.
MOOS: Of course, if anyone knows what is it's like to be chewed on, it's Evander Holyfield who had a bit of his ear chomped off by Mike Tyson.
Even missing part of his ear, Holyfield heard about the soccer bite and tweeted out, "I guess any part of the body is up for eating."
Suarez can expect the return of all those Internet jokes he was the butt of the last two times he got nabbed biting. "If you can't beat them,
just eat them." In this case, Suarez's team Uruguay beat Italy by one goal.
He should get ready to see himself plastered on "Jaws" posters. McDonald's of Uruguay got into the act, tweeting to Suarez, "If you feel
hungry, come take a bite of a Big Mac."
We haven't had such a prominent man bites man story since boy bit boy back in the 2007 viral video sensation, "Charlie bit me."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ouch, Charlie! Ouch! Charlie, that really hurt!
MOOS: We have some advice from the World Cup fan for this big fish of the soccer world.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Biting should only happen in the bedroom.
MOOS: Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, Jeanne mentioned boxer Evander Holyfield there. And do stay with CNN as the former heavyweight champion weighs in on the
controversy. That's on CNN's brand new show The World Right now with Hala Gorani. That's at 8:00 London time. Work out for yourselves what time
that would be wherever you are watching.
We are here in the UAE. FIFA says Luis Suarez and Uruguay's football association have until 20:00 GMT -- get you to sort out your times here --
to respond to the biting allegations. That's about three or four hours from now.
So what is Suarez's next move here? Well, joining me now is James Piercy, the deputy editor of Sport 360 here in Abu Dhabi.
A lot of noise last night, Piercy, after the game saying that FIFA wouldn't have the guts to hand down a harsh penalty on this if indeed they
deiced it is a munch. You don't agree with that.
JAMES PIERCY, SPORT 360: Well, I mean, I don't. I mean, there was some inference from Giorgio Chiellini himself who basically said the
referee ignored it given he's Luis Suarez, given he (inaudible) Uruguay, one of the South American teams, wants the big players to be involved in
the World Cup. I mean, there's always -- that's been going on this World Cup for a lot more -- Brazil is the only bad decisions that went for them
in the first game.
But I think we're at a situation now where there's so much riding on this. It's such an unusual case. It's such a huge precedent FIFA are
about to set. So they really have to get it right.
ANDERSON: These are allegations at the moment. Let's just have a quick look at his history of munching people.
This, of course, the 2013 moment, Ivanovic. Just walk me through this.
PIERCY: Well, I mean...
(CROSSTALK)
PIERCY: ...of course not. I mean, the first time is PSV's Amman Bakal (ph) in 2010. I mean, we're talking three instances in four years.
And at some stage, you know, we're going to have to look at the guy's got a real problem, because if you look at the instances as well, they've always
happened in high pressure big game. PSV-Ajax, one of the biggest games in Dutch football. Liverpool-Chelsea, massive Premier League game. And now
we've got a huge World Cup tie as well.
ANDERSON: I have to say, I've got to agree with you. I mean, it's the sort of thing you do when you're three or four years old, biting isn't
it? I mean, it's not even acceptable then. You tell your kids it's not acceptable.
And to be doing it as he is, you pointed out some professional help would probably come in useful at this point.
PIERCY: I mean, it's almost like I don't think he's fully aware of what he's doing. I mean, I'm not psychologist, but there is no build up to
it. You know, we're talking about -- there's no sort of looking at the player going again -- I mean, it's not like, for example, I'm going to use
to use an example (inaudible) Roy Keane and (inaudible) fouling him.
It's just a general snap.
ANDERSON: What do our viewers think? Well, fans were not too keen or kind of Suarez online. I tweeted out this morning, should he stay or
should he go? And this is the response to that earlier on today.
Xena says, Suarez is a disgrace to football and the World Cup. The game is not for vampires. She says it's for humans. He's in urgent need
of professional help. He's agreeing with you.
And Juan tweeted this, "he should go. FIFA should act and give him a one-year ban. This is totally unacceptable."
What do you think he will get at this point?
PIERCY: As we said, I mean, the only real precedent we've got is Mara Desotti's (ph) ban in 1994. And that was for an elbow when there has been
plenty of elbows in football and he got eight matches effectively ending his international career
Now it's going to exceed that. We've got a seven match ban, a 10 match ban. So you think it's going to go beyond that. How much? We don't
know. And how far reaching in terms of international domestic football?
ANDERSON: Yeah. I want to get on with the football, so to do that let's bring out our World Cup. There you go.
I mean, in his defense Suarez has said -- or Suarez says that his defense to this is it was all in the heat of the moment and if you're going
to pull people up for, you know, unintentional moments then it's going to slow the game down. But listen, I ton' think you and eye, even after
comment on that at this point.
PIERCY: It's a real shame in a way that, for example Oscar Tabarez the Uruguay manager went quiet immediately after the game. I know he's
going to defend his player, but to start throwing out things like conspiracies and how, you know, because Brazil as far (inaudible) saying
because Brazil are hosting they might be playing Uruguay in the quarter -- sorry, semifinals. That's why they're going to play -- I just think it's
harmful. It's really harmful.
ANDERSON: Let's do the football, shall we? Let's do the proper football.
Who is going to win this? Let's have a look at tonight's matches. Who do you fancy?
PIERCY: Well, France are looking very good. I don't know what sort of team he's going to put out . You know, they've been scoring goals with
Karim Benzema and Mathieu Valbuena. They've been playing some fantastic football.
So I know Algeria -- Argentina. Argentina has still got a chance to come through. I think Lionel Messi the way he -- it just seems to be his
moment at the moment. He's not playing particularly well, but he's scoring some fantastic goals.
ANDERSON: He scored against Iran, of course, and they are playing tonight against Bosnia. I have to say without being partisan here, I'd
love to see Iran go through. Iran and Argentina out of that group.
PIERCY: Yeah. I mean, it's an interesting...
ANDERSON: Apologies to Nigerians and Bosnians watching, of course.
(CROSSTALK)
PIERCY: Bosnia have gone.
But Iran it's an interesting, given within that group you would expect they were going to be the whipping boys, but now they are at a stage where
they're still in the competition. They've got a real chance of going through. Bosnia's mentality, we're not 100 percent sure how they're going
to approach the game. I mean, they went to go out on a high, but there's nothing really in it for them. Iran have got very good defense, they've
got some -- they've showed against Argentina they can be a threat going forward. Asgan Dejagar (ph) is playing some decent football at the moment.
So if they can just find those goals they might well win it.
ANDERSON: And Ecuador playing tonight as well?
PIERCY: Yeah, well they could be the one South American team who miss out, depending. I mean Switzerland will be playing Honduras. And you
fancy Switzerland to get a result against Honduras despite the fact they got hammered by France. But, like I said it's very dependent on what sort
of France team we see. Because if they beat Ecuador, obviously, they pretty much gone.
ANDERSON: It's interesting, isn't it. Not an awful lot of Europeans left. It'll be nice to see Greece still in the mix, of course.
PIERCY: Yeah. Yeah. I mean, that was...
ANDERSON: I wouldn't have guessed that one.
PIERCY: ...in many ways it was desperately sad Ivory Coast for the third time in the last game with a big chance to make it through to second
round and they lasted until the 93rd minute.
ANDERSON: Holland and Germany still around, Belgium -- I had a bit of a bet on them to head of the tournament thinking that, you know, they've
got -- you know, on paper at least a tremendous team. They haven't brilliantly, haven't they?
PIERCY: No, the Belgians -- I mean, they're a young team. They're very inexperienced. We don't really know how they're going to go. I mean,
they've showed in patches what they can do. And a very good unit. You know, they fought back when they played badly they've sort of reacted well.
How are they going to perform when they get one o f the big boys? That's the big questioned
ANDERSON: All right. Good. Well, look, it looks as if it may be an all-South American semi and final at the moment -- listen, who knows, who
knows. This is what it's all about. Let's try and get away from the controversy.
Thank you, sir.
PIERCY: No problem.
ANDERSON: Stick around for this next bit.
Live from Abu Dhabi you're watching Connect the World with me, Becky Anderson.
Aiding Alitalia, how a Middle East company is swooping in to save the Italian airline. All that and much more -- when I say much more, you
really have to stick around we've got an amazing little football story towards the end of the show. Do stay with us for that.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Right. Alitalia has agreed to a deal with Etihad Airways. It will get the Middle Eastern airline a 49 percent in its Italian rival.
Now this agreement comes after months of talks and still needs to be approved by regulators.
Alitalia bailed out by the Italian government of course last year and is currently cutting thousands of jobs.
John Defterios joining me now with more on the details.
Etihad, of course, a huge player. It's Abu Dhabi's flag carrier. What's the strategy here, what's the logic behind buying into what is a
failing -- I mean, a loss making organization.
DEFTERIOS: Well, there's a two-tier strategy. Number one, it wants to compete against Emirates, which had a 20 year head start. But
strategically with Alitalia it's the second anchor location in Europe. It has a stake in (inaudible) already, so that gives it Germany, which is the
largest economy. It needed a hub. It bought into southern Europe.
Alitalia has been losing a lot of money. And this is kind of late, last, great white hope for Alitalia coming in here.
But Etihad didn't give the shop away. They took four months to negotiate this deal, Becky, which I find is very interesting. And they
said basically -- an executive said this during the negotiations, we will not sign a deal unless we agree to layoffs reported to be at least 2,200.
And they have $1.3 billion of debt. Etihad didn't want to come in and say we have to shoulder the burden for the debt. The Italian banks are still
on the hook.
ANDERSON: What's in this for the Italians -- after all this is Rome's flag carrier. I know that not really flag carriers these days, but
certainly the Italians still see Alitalia as their flag carrier.
DEFTERIOS: Yeah, indeed.
I think it's fair to say -- as you know, I have an Italian wife and I lived in Italy for four years. Italians are tired of hearing about the
fact that the unions didn't want to restructure. This has been going on for 10 years. The carrier lost $500 million last year. In 2013 at the
same time, the Italian government with the Italian banks had to bail them out for $680 million. It wasn't sustainable. And Etihad with the oil
reserves here were looked at as the last chance to bail them out.
And also I think it's an interesting point, I had to interview the finance minister Pier Carlo Padoan in April when I was there. And he said,
look, this is an opportunity for us to show the world that Matteo Renzi, the young prime minister who is only 39 years old is serious about opening
up this market to foreign direction and investment.
If you can pull it off with Alitalia, then you can do other things potentially.
ANDERSON: What does this all say about the wider industry story here in this region?
DEFTERIOS: Well, I find it quite fascinating. I mean, you take a step back. Etihad is only 11 years old. It's taken a 49 percent, the largest
stake in Alitalia, which is 68 years old. What does that tell us? The legacy five carriers that you were talking about right now is burdened with
costs -- union costs, high fuel costs, high landing costs. You're here in the Middle East, they own the airports, they have subsidized fuel. They
have new fleets. They're traveling east where the growth is in Asia and they want to be able to connect those passengers here in the Middle East,
take them to Europe and move on to America -- Etihad just opened up a direct line to Los Angeles on a 16 hour flight just two weeks ago.
And they wanted this deal done by July 15. They opened up that leg to Rome on July 15. They wanted this deal signed.
ANDERSON: Done and nearly dusted.
DEFTERIOS: Nearly dusted. Not quite yet.
ANDERSON: John Defterios, always a pleasure to have you.
Coming up after this short break on Connect the World with me Becky Anderson, the power of football to change lives. An acclaimed short film
shows us the fighting spirit of one young Iraqi war survivor. This is a report you will not want to miss. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, in tonight's Parting Shots, as football superstar Lionel Messi prepares for the pitch at the World Cup tonight, we look at
the award-winning short film Baghdad Messi. It tells the story of a young Iraqi boy who clings to his love of the beautiful game despite the violence
that has interrupted his childhood. Have a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I made a film about Subol (ph) and the magical football. How sport make people happy in their life.
The studio, the film is about a boy who has one leg, but tries to play football in Iraq so he lives in the most dangerous city in the world. His
only problem is to play football.
The captain asked him to go home. He still playing with his team, because his television is broken out.
UNIDENTIFEID MALE (through translator): It's the third time that we lose because of you, filthy dog. You should sell tomatoes. You don't need
both legs for that. You're off the team. Give me your gloves.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He asks his father to go to Baghdad to recover the television with the hoe to play again with his football team.
And to go to Baghdad, it's not too safe. His father, he knows football is the only thing which makes his son happy. He decides to go
with his son 10 years after the fall of the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein. He thought it would be better, but it's worse. It's very, very painful.
The boy is (inaudible) it's like Iraq. Iraq has also they've got a lot of problems and we still have to hope they will not give it up his
dream.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Inspiring little film.
Where is this young actor Alial Zadari (ph) now. Well, he lives in Baghdad with his family. Although clearly life is not easy there,
particularly these days, like a page out of a football fairy tale he did finally get to meet superstar Lionel Messi in Qatar after the film was
finished. And thanks to attention from the movie, the youngster now has a prosthetic leg.
We'll post his story online and on social media straight after the show.
The team at Connect the World wants to hear from you. Facebook.com/CNNconnect. Have your say. You can tweet me @BeckyCNN.
Just so that all of you know, viewers, as well, good luck to every team that is playing in the World Cup at any one time. We always have our
favorites, but we wish the very best of luck to everybody who is still in the competition.
I'm Becky Anderson, that was Connect the World. Thank you for watching.
END
