#WorldCup: Luis Suarez @luis16suarez Handed 9-Game Int. Ban And 4 Months Suspension From “Any Football-Related Activity”

Luis Suarez

The Uruguay striker was handed a nine-game international ban and a four-month suspension from “any football-related activity” by Fifa following his bite on Giorgio Chiellini
Liverpool striker Luis Suarez will miss the first half of his side’s Champions League group-stage campaign as well as key domestic fixtures against Manchester City and Everton after FIFA handed him a four-month suspension from “any football related activity” for biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini.

Suarez will miss the rest of the Uruguay’s World Cup campaign – England’s conquerors are due to face fellow South Americans Colombia in the last 16 – as well as next summer’s Copa America and a significant portion of the upcoming Premier League season.

Suarez could miss up to 14 fixtures, depending on Liverpool’s progress in the Capital One Cup, including back-to-back away games against reigning champions Manchester City and Tottenham and the first Merseyside derby of the season at Anfield on September 27.

The 27-year-old’s form last season was the primary reason behind Liverpool’s qualification for the Champions League – they are due to make an appearance in the competition for the first time since 2009 – but Suarez will play no part in his side’s first three games in Europe.

Suarez was suspended for 10 games after biting Branislav Ivanovic at the end of the 2012-13 season and also missed eight games when he was banned having been found guilty of racially abusing Manchester United’s Patrice Evra in October 2011.

By the time Suarez returns from his latest ban, he will have potentially missed 32 games for his club in two-and-half seasons.

Suarez will be unable to appeal the ban, only the £66,000 fine handed down by the world governing body, while his club have confirmed they will review FIFA’s report.

In a statement, chief executive Ian Ayre said: “Liverpool Football Club will wait until we have seen and had time to review the FIFA Disciplinary Committee report before making any further comment.