The Uruguayan president José Mujica has offered his support to Liverpool striker Luis Suarez over his race storm. Mujica insists his compatriot "is not a racist and never will be".

Speaking to Uruguayan radio station M24 the president said: "There is solidarity with Suarez. Suarez is not a racist and never will be."

In a separate interview, with weekly newspaper Busqueda, he added that the case had been "exaggerated".

"There is nothing racist,' said Mujica, adding that "some do not understand" Suarez and did not study "diplomatic protocol".

Mujica added: "He's a young genius on the football field, (and) humble."