TheCable

Two days after top Uruguay striker Luis Suarez bit Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini during the Group D stage of the ongoing World Cup, FIFA has placed a nine-match ban and four-month suspension from any football activity on him.

Suarez, whose brace sent England out of the tournament, will be missing in action when Uruguay face Colombia at Rio de Janeiro on Saturday.

The decision was announced by FIFA at a news conference Thursday.

“The first match of this suspension is to be served in the upcoming FIFA World Cup fixture between Colombia and Uruguay on June 28, 2014,” said Claudio Sulser, chairman of the FIFA disciplinary committee.

“The remaining match suspensions shall be served in Uruguay’s next FIFA World Cup match(es), as long as the team qualifies, and/or in the representative team’s subsequent official matches.”

Suarez is also expected to pay a fine of $112,000 and stay away from any stadium pending the period that the ban elapses.

“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,” she said.

“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.”

This is about the third time that Suarez faces such punitive measure in his career.

In April 2013, he was banned for 10 games after being found guilty of biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic.

He was also guilty of biting during his time in the Netherlands with Ajax, where he was banned for seven games after leaving a scar on the collarbone of Otman Bakkal.

In their match with Italy, Uruguay looked to be heading for the exit in the 80th minute with the game locked at 0-0 – the South Americans needed victory – when Suárez tussled with Chiellini, as they chased a ball inside the Italy penalty area.

The Liverpool striker leaned his forehead into Chiellini, in what looked, initially, to be a butt before biting down on his opponent’s shoulder. Suárez flung himself to the ground and, moments later, he could be seen holding his teeth.

Chiellini reacted with fury, pulling the neck of his shirt down and across his left shoulder to expose what still photographs revealed to be a bite mark.

In reaction to the ban, Liverpool says it will take time to review  the decision before acting.

“Liverpool Football Club will wait until we have seen and had time to review the FIFA Disciplinary Committee report before making any further comment,” said Ian Ayre, chief executive officer of Liverpool in a statement.

Suarez has enjoyed a sensational season with Liverpool — scoring 31 league goals to help his club qualify for the Champions League.

He was voted Player of the Year by his fellow colleagues and also named as the journalists’ Player of the Year.