Uruguay star Luis Suarez received a nine-game suspension and four-month ban for biting an Italy player on the shoulder. The suspension effectively ends Suarez's 2014 World Cup campaign, leaving Uruguay without their best player.
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee reviewed the incident in question, which happened on Tuesday during Uruguay's 1-0 win against Italy, and determined Suarez did in fact bite Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini on the shoulder.
Suarez violated FIFA's code prohibiting acts of unsporting behavior towards other players. Consequently, he was banned for nine games, including World Cup games, suspended from all football activity for four months and prohibited from entering any stadium in which Uruguay is playing in while serving his nine-game suspension.
The discipline is effective immediately.
Per FIFA's released statement:
"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."
Suarez bit Chiellini in the 80th minute while the two were jockeying for position on the pitch. No card was shown for the incident, despite Chiellini's protests. Uruguay defender Diego Godin scored a minute later on a header, ultimately giving Uruguay the win and qualification into the knockout stage.
After the match, Chiellini doubted whether FIFA would have the "courage" to discipline Suarez.
"Suarez is a sneak and he gets away with it because FIFA want their stars to play in the World Cup," Chiellini told Sky Italia after the match, via ABC News. "I'd love to see if they have the courage to use video evidence against him."
The incident is Suarez's third known instance of him biting another player.
