The heaviest punishment ever inflicted on a player at a World Cup finals effectively booted Suarez out of the tournament in shame following his clash with Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini on Tuesday.
It is the third time that the 27-year-old striker, one of the most brilliant footballers in the world, but also one of the most temperamental, has been banned for biting an opponent.
The nine-match ban would be effective immediately, ruling him out of Uruguay’s World Cup second-round match on Saturday against Colombia, said Fifa spokeswoman Delia Fischer.
As part of the ban on football activities, Suarez will not be allowed into a stadium for four months. He was also fined $112,000.
Fifa said that Suarez was told of the ban on Thursday. Uruguayan officials had previously insisted there was not enough evidence to take action against Suarez.
Suarez bit Chiellini during Uruguay’s 1-0 win over Italy in World Cup Group D on Tuesday.
The player had initially shrugged off the incident. “These are just things that happen out on the pitch. It was just the two of us inside the area and he bumped into me with his shoulder,” Suarez told Uruguayan television.
Earlier – from the president down to football players and fans – Uruguayans had rallied behind Suarez as their controversial hero risked a possible World Cup ouster.
On social networks and in the streets, the volatile 27-year-old’s compatriots played down the incident with Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini.
“I did not see him bite anyone. But they give each other so many kicks and blows and normally they put up with it,” President Jose Mujica told reporters, describing Suarez as ‘an excellent player’.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 27th, 2014.
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Suarez is awful and brings awful press to whoever he plays for now in my view. He should be banned from playing anywhere, better yet, no team should want a violent player like this. Makes it look like a team would do anything for a win instead of stand up for what is right. It's just a game and there is no excuse for violent behavior. The Italian should sue him in court and recover monetary damages.