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Suarez banned for 4 months, 9 matches over biting

26 June 2014 17:39 (UTC +04:00)

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee made the decision on Thursday, suspending him for nine matches and fining him 100,000 Swiss francs (USD 112,000).

The ban means that the Liverpool striker will miss the rest of his country’s World Cup campaign and also the beginning of the domestic season.

"Such behavior 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," said the committee chief Claudio Sulser.

The incident took place on June 24 after the 27-year-old player sank his teeth into Chiellini’s shoulder during his side’s Group D victory.

Suarez was also suspended for seven games for biting PSV Eindhoven's Otman Bakkal in 2010 and 10 matches for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic last year.

"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 committee chief also said.

Uruguay football officials had defended Suarez, saying he had not bitten anyone and that he was the victim of a media witch-hunt.

Uruguayan President Jose Mujica also supported Suarez and said on Wednesday that "I did not see him bite anyone."

Chiellini, however, told reporters that Suarez “bit me, it's clear, I still have the mark."

Suarez also tried to down play the incident, saying the Italian defender had barged me.

"There are things that happen on the pitch and you should not make such a big deal out of them," he said.

Uruguay advanced to the World Cup last 16 from Group D with six points. It will face Colombia on June 28 in Rio de Janeiro.