Uruguay striker Luis Suarez is out of the World Cup after being handed a nine-match ban by football’s world governing body FIFA.
A FIFA spokesman said Suarez is banned from any football-related activity or from entering any football stadium for four months.
FIFA had opened disciplinary proceedings against Suarez for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini during their World Cup match.
“Such behaviour cannot be tolerated on any football pitch, and in particular not at a FIFA World Cup when the eyes of millions of people are on the stars on the field,” Claudio Sulser, chairman of the FIFA disciplinary committee, said in a statement on Thursday.
“The Disciplinary Committee took into account all the factors of the case and the degree of Mr Suarez’s guilt in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Code.
“The decision comes into force as soon it is communicated.”
Suarez, who had already served two lengthy suspensions for biting opponents while playing at club level, will be allowed to appeal through the Uruguayan federation.
Suarez breached an article of the FIFA relating to unsporting behaviour towards another player, a FIFA statement said.
“The player Luis Suarez is to be suspended for nine official matches,” the statement said.
“The first match of this suspension is to be served in the upcoming FIFA World Cup fixture between Colombia and Uruguay on 28 June 2014.”
Suarez has also been fined 100,000 Swiss francs ($A121,000).
The Uruguay football association, headed by president Wilmar Valdez, had presented a defence of Suarez to FIFA on Wednesday. Suarez himself didn’t testify.
In the 79th-minute incident of Tuesday’s Group D match, Suarez pushed his head towards Chiellini and appeared to bite the defender in the shoulder in the penalty area just before Diego Godin headed Uruguay’s winner, sending the 2006 champions out of the tournament.
It is not the first time Suarez has engaged in such behaviour.
He was banned for 10 games for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic in a Premier League match in April 2013, having previously been banned for seven games for biting PSV Eindhoven midfielder Otman Bakkal on the shoulder while Ajax captain, in 2010.
In England, where he was last season’s Premier League top scorer and voted player of the year, he also served an eight-game ban after being found guilty by the Football Association of racially abusing United’s Patrice Evra in an incident in October 2011, a charge he always denied.
Colin N
Guest
Maybe then, with this ban, he will actually learn.
Colin N
Guest
And the international matches means competitive matches so that covers the Copa America next year. It's an unprecedented ban but then again, it's unprecedented for someone to bite three times!
Midfielder
Guest
The Wiggles ~ The Last Suárez Supper! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPnoLl3N45w
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
The victim, Giorgio Chiellini has publicly stated he thinks the 4-month ban is excessive and feels sympathy of Suarez. Chiellini said: "Now inside me there’s no feelings of joy, revenge or anger against Suarez for an incident that happened on the pitch and that’s done. At the moment my only thought is for Luis and his family, because they will face a very difficult period. I sincerely hope that he will be allowed, at least, to stay close to his team-mates during the games because such a ban is really alienating for a player" Full story: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/players/luis-suarez/10930281/Luis-Suarezs-four-month-ban-is-excessive-says-World-Cup-2014-bite-victim-Giorgio-Chiellini.html
Steve Kerr
Roar Rookie
He should join Chelsea, then you'd have Chewy Louis and the Blues
killaku
Guest
I reckon $100k fine and 3 front teeth removed
Batou
Guest
Or just lock him in the back yard during the day
AZ_RBB
Guest
Mirco chip him or GPS collar?
theBird
Guest
How could FIFA prevent Suarez from training? I am assuming most of Liverpools training sessions are closed sessions?
Ian
Guest
on your 2nd question about length of matches i'm not sure if you were tongue in cheek there but 4 months not entering a football stadium adds a lot to the 9 international games he misses.
Wally James
Roar Guru
Point taken Ben. Thanks for clarifying what he actually will suffer. I still think that it is woefully lenient. Appalling conduct like that should merit much more for a repeat offender.
Batou
Guest
There's no way that clubs would pass on a player of his skills regardless of all the controversy, although they may factor time suspended into their valuation of him. Same goes for fans (of the teams he plays for). Most would rather win with a nutcase talent in their team than fall short.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
According the BBC his ban is effectively 13 games for Liverpool and 9 for Uruguay (not counting the fact he cannot train with Liverpool, or any football club, for 4 months so therefore may not be able to be rushed back into the side immediately after the ban)
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
It is much more. The 4 months suspension covers quite a large number of EPL, Champions League and English domestic cup matches. The 9 games is just for the international matches (which will extend beyond the 4 months, could be well over a year)
Brian Orange
Roar Guru
And Chiellini got off Scot-free for shoulder charging his teeth. Disgraceful! How did they work out his bans - throw a pair of dice? Habitual biter gets 8 match ban, 10 match and then 9 match ban. Work that out? There was a lot of gnashing of teeth, but the judiciary went over the evidence with a fine toothed comb and finally got their teeth into it. Suarez is getting a bit long in the tooth anyway and he bit off more than he could chew. Suarez has got a bit of spare time now to chew the fat. Will the decision come back to bite them. Uruguay can't win without Suarez's attacking bite in the front third and jaw clenching resolve. Can Uruguay bite back without him. Gives the coach something to chew on. Maybe with a bite sized bit of luck they can get through. Their tactician will be getting his teeth into it, chewing the cud wondering what to do without him. The new Uruguay team formation will have teething problems, but I'm sure they'll take the bit between their teeth and fight them tooth and nail. Without Suarez, they'll have to sink their teeth into their next challenge. Columbia will be armed to the teeth when they take on Uruguay next. Italy wanted an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Uruguayan goals will now be as rare as hen's teeth. If Uruguay get through, it will be by the skin of Suarez's teeth. Suarez's teeth stick out so much it looks like his nose is playing the piano. All tongue in cheek of course.
Wally James
Roar Guru
The fine is a pittance for someone on the money he earns. An outrageously short ban. He has two prior suspensions for the same offence, the last for 10 games. How does he now get one game less for the third offence. Biting can cause all sorts of health problems, not the least of which is the communication of infectious diseases such as aids and hepatitis. I would have thought at least a year for the first offence and then life for the second let alone the slap on the wrist the history of his offending would indicate.
James
Guest
Not willing to give the man a 4th bite of the cherry?
David of Canberra
Guest
no-one should take him - he has bitten off more than he can chew and if we allow a three strikes and you're out policy, he's had his fair share of chances.
rmc
Guest
Suarez seems to thrive on controversy. With each suspension his attacking skills become even more devastating. Are we about to witness the greatest (and worst) footballer of all time? Dear Atletico Madrid, please take Suarez... I want to see him match up against Neymar, Ronaldo, Messi, Benzema, Bale et al.
Brett McKay
Expert
Ouch, that's got to bite..... :lol: Sorry.