FIFA has opened a probe into
Uruguay striker Luis Suarez for apparently biting Italy defender
Giorgio Chiellini during his side's 1-0 win at the World Cup on
Tuesday, a defeat that saw Italy exit at the group stage.
TV replays seem to show Suarez sink his teeth into
Chiellini's shoulder in an off-the-ball incident and the
Juventus centre-back showed marks after the match to prove he
was bitten.
FIFA are expected to give Liverpool striker Suarez, who has
been banned twice in the past for biting, a lengthy ban to
ensure he takes no further part in the World Cup.
Suarez was banned for 10 games last year after biting
Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic in a Premier League match and in
2010 he was suspended for seven games for a similar offence
against PSV Eindhoven's Otman Bakkal while playing for Ajax
Amsterdam.
Italy were furious at the referee for missing the biting
incident and for his 59th-minute sending off of midfielder
Claudio Marchisio for a dangerous challenge.
Most Italian commentators say the foul was a yellow-card
offence at the most, although replays did show Marchisio's studs
land in the leg of Uruguay's Egidio Arevalo Rios.
The bite incident took place shortly before defender Diego
Godin headed in the winning goal for the South Americans from a
corner on 81 minutes.
The Azzurri's early exit from the World Cup prompted coach
Cesare Prandelli and Italian Soccer Federation President
Giancarlo Abete to quit.
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