The Uruguay striker appeared to bite an Italian defender on the shoulder when the pair were tangled up in the box late in their World Cup match Tuesday. He could be suspended up to two years.
Disciplinary proceedings have opened against Uruguay striker Luis Suarez following an alleged incident of biting his Italian opponent on the shoulder during their World Cup match on Tuesday, FIFA announced Tuesday night.
FIFA can confirm that disciplinary proceedings have been opened against the player Luis Suarez of Uruguay following an apparent breach of art. 48 and/or art. 57 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
Suarez and/or the Uruguayan Football Association have until 4 p.m. ET Wednesday to provide any evidence they deem relevant to their position. The player denied the accusation, saying, "These situations happen on the field. I had contact with his shoulder, nothing more, things like that happen all the time."
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In the 80th minute, Suarez appeared to bite Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini:
No punishment from the referee occurred during the match. Uruguay won, 1-0, and advances to the Round of 16. Their lone goal was scored by Diego Godin shortly after the incident, in the 81st minute.
The video -- coupled with Suarez's history of biting opponents -- would seem to make his case a difficult one. Suarez was suspended 10 games last year while playing with Liverpool of the English Premier League after biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic. With Ajax in the Netherlands' Eredivisie in 2010, he received a seven-game ban after biting PSV Eindhoven midfielder Otman Bakkal, also on the shoulder.
A ban by FIFA could last anywhere from two matches to a period of 24 months, but with little precedent it's anyone's guess just how long that punishment could last. It could well extend beyond the World Cup into his club season with the Reds. The decision must be made before Uruguay meets Colombia in the Round of 16 on Saturday.