DANIEL GARCIA/AFP/Getty Images(SAO PAULO) — Uruguay striker Luis Suarez will miss the rest of the World Cup after he was banned for nine games and four months after biting an Italian defender during a game, FIFA said Thursday.
In a statement, FIFA, soccer’s world governing body, said the Disciplinary Committee had come to the conclusion that Suarez had “breached” the code of “an act of unsporting behavior towards another player.”
“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. 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 decision comes into force as soon it is communicated,” added Claudio Sulser, who serves as chairman of FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee.
Just before Uruguay defeated Italy 1-0 this past Tuesday in the Brazilian city of Natal, Suarez appeared to bite Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini in the 80th minute while the players tussled in the penalty area. He was not punished by the referee, but the Disciplinary Committee made its decision after reviewing game footage.
In addition, FIFA said Suarez, 27, will serve the ban starting this weekend and will have to pay a fine of $112,000. Uruguay plays Colombia on Saturday in the round of 16.
“The remaining match suspensions shall be served in Uruguay’s next FIFA World Cup match(es), as long as the team qualifies, and/or in the representative team’s subsequent official matches,” FIFA said.
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