Suarez on Chiellini bite: ‘I lost balance and hit my teeth’
Luis Suarez denies biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini and says he lost his balance and hit his face on the defenders shoulder.
His claims, which were dismissed by Fifa’s disciplinary committee, are contained in the full written reasons of the ruling.
Suarez said in his submission: “After the impact I lost my balance, that destabilised me and I fell on top of my opponent.
“At this moment I hit my face against the player leaving a small bruise on my cheek and a strong pain in my teeth and that’s why the referee stopped the match.
“That is what happened and in no way was there any case of biting or intending to bite.”
The seven-man disciplinary panel dismissed his arguments and imposed a four-month ban from all football, plus nine international matches and a £65,000.
The panel’s ruling stated: “The commission took into account that the offence was made directly against a player while the ball was not in dispute and that the offence was deliberate and intentional and without provocation.
“He bit the player with the intention of wounding him or at least of destabilising him.
“In such context the committee observes that the player had been sanctioned on previous occasions in club competition for similar acts.”
Fifa has been formally informed of the Uruguay FA’s intention to appeal against the sanctions on Suarez.
The Uruguay football federation will now have a further seven days to prepare the paperwork for the appeal.
In In Montevideo supporters gathered at the airport to show their allegiance to the striker, who was due to arrive after leaving the team’s hotel in Brazil.