Luis Suarez's World Cup is over as he gets record nine-match, four-month ban for biting
Uruguay will appeal, but star's tournament is over; Liverpool considering his future; sponsorship deals may be in doubt
Uruguay star Luis Suarez was on Thursday suspended for nine matches for biting an opponent as World Cup chiefs struck back with the heaviest sanction against a player in the tournament's history.
Suarez, who sank his teeth into Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini during his team's group D win on Tuesday, was also banned from all football activity for four months and fined 100,000 Swiss francs (HK$866,500).
"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," said Fifa disciplinary committee chief Claudio Sulser.
This boy's clearly not right in the head. That's just not something you do on the pitch
The Suarez suspension takes effect immediately and he will not be able to play in Uruguay's second-round match against Colombia on Saturday in Rio de Janeiro, even with an appeal.
The Uruguay Football Association said that it would appeal.
The four-month ban means he will also be prevented from entering the stadium for Saturday's game.
Suarez will not be able to train or attend matches with his English club Liverpool until late October, meaning he will miss at least nine Premier League games and the start of their Champions League campaign.
"Liverpool Football Club will wait until we have seen and had time to review the Fifa disciplinary committee report before making any further comment," Liverpool chief executive officer Ian Ayre said on the club's website.
