Uruguay soccer star Luis Suárez was suspended for nine matches and banned from any soccer-related activity for four months after he bit an opposing player, FIFA said Thursday.
FIFA’s disciplinary committee ruled that the striker had committed “an act of unsporting behavior towards another player.” Suárez bit Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini during a World Cup match Tuesday. The suspension means Suárez will miss Uruguay’s upcoming match against Colombia on June 28. He will then have to sit out either more World Cup matches, depending on how far Uruguay advances, or other games in the future.
Suárez was also banned from entering any stadium during this period and will have to pay a fine of 100,000 Swiss Francs, or $112,000.
“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,” Claudio Sulser, chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, said in a statement.
The Bite Heard 'Round the World
Uruguay's Luis Suarez reacts after clashing with Italy's Giorgio Chiellini during their 2014 World Cup Group D soccer match at the Dunas arena in Natal, Brazil on June 24, 2014.Tony Gentile—ReutersGiorgio Chiellini claims he was bitten by Uruguay's Luis Suarez during the FIFA World Cup 2014 group D preliminary round match between Italy and Uruguay at the Estadio Arena das Dunas in Natal, Brazil on June 24, 2014.
Emilio Lavandeira—EPALuis Suarez of Uruguay and Giorgio Chiellini of Italy react after a clash during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group D match between Italy and Uruguay at Estadio das Dunas on June 24, 2014 in Natal, Brazil. Julian Finney—Getty ImagesItaly's Giorgio Chiellini holds his shoulder after Uruguay's Luis Suarez ran into it with his teeth during the group D World Cup soccer match between Italy and Uruguay at the Arena das Dunas in Natal, Brazil on June 24, 2014.Petr David Josek—APItaly's Giorgio Chiellini shows his shoulder, claiming he was bitten by Uruguay's Luis Suarez, during their 2014 World Cup Group D soccer match at the Dunas arena in Natal, Brazil on June 24, 2014.Carlos Barbia—ReutersItaly's Giorgio Chiellini shows his shoulder, claiming he was bitten by Uruguay's Luis Suarez, during their 2014 World Cup Group D soccer match at the Dunas arena in Natal, Brazil on June 24, 2014. Tony Gentile—ReutersLuis Suarez of Uruguay reacts after a 1-0 victory over Italy in the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group D match between Italy and Uruguay at Estadio das Dunas on June 24, 2014 in Natal, Brazil.Julian Finney—Getty Images
