Thursday, 14 August 2014

Luis Suarez bite: Ban upheld but striker allowed to train

World Cup 2014: Uruguay forward Luis Suarez
Luis Suarez's four-month biting ban has been upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but the Uruguay striker can now train with new club Barcelona.

A full explanation of the ruling will not be published until a later date.

Suarez's lawyers argued world governing body Fifa's decision to suspend him from all "football-related activity" for biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup was excessive.

Suarez, 27, will be available from El Clasico at Real Madrid on 26 October.

The Uruguay striker will continue to serve a nine-match international ban but, having previously been banned from all "football-related activity", he can now train and attend matches.

"The sanctions imposed on the player by Fifa have been generally confirmed,'' the Cas said in a statement.

But the court said preventing Suarez from taking part in any football activity was "excessive" as not allowing him to train would have had an impact on the player after the end of the suspension.

Luis Suarez controversies

June 2014 - Banned for four months from any football-related activity, plus nine international matches, for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini
April 2013 - Apologises for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic and receives a 10-game ban
Dec 2011 - Given eight-match suspension and fined £40,000 for racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra
Nov 2010 - Given seven-match ban for biting PSV Eindhoven's Otman Bakkal on the shoulder while playing for Ajax

Suarez's legal team said the appeal was a success after they argued Fifa had "misapplied its own rules when considering the case and the sanction it imposed was disproportionate".

Although the team confirmed the possibility of appealing the Cas decision to the Swiss Supreme Court, the grounds for appeal are "very restricted".

Suarez was a Liverpool player at the time of his clash with Chiellini but has since left Anfield to join Barcelona in a £75m deal.

Barcelona's La Liga season starts at home to Elche on 24 August, meaning Suarez will miss eight games before he can make his debut for the Catalan giants.

The ban, handed down by world governing body Fifa, is the longest in World Cup history.

Suarez apologised some time after the incident, despite initially claiming to have lost his balance.

He has previously been suspended for biting PSV Eindhoven midfielder Otman Bakkal and Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic.

He was also given an eight-match suspension and fined £40,000 for racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra in 2011.

Suarez biting Chiellini
Uruguay's Luis Suarez bit Italy's Giorgio Chiellini during their World Cup group game

Luis Suarez
Suarez retuned to Uruguay from the World Cup after his four-month ban was confirmed by Fifa

Suarez Barca shirt
Official replica shirts went on display in the FC Barcelona club shop shortly after Suarez signed in July

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