Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini challenged FIFA to have enough “courage” to ban high status player Luis Suárez from the 2014 World Cup after being the third player bitten by the Uruguay striker.
The teeth marks on Chiellini’s left shoulder, complements of Suárez, were still visible 79 minutes in to Uruguay’s victory against Italy at 1-0 in Natal. The victory secures Uruguay’s progress from Group D, eliminating the Italians.
FIFA is now investigating what happened in the biting, which is one of the most shocking player behaviours in the history of the World Cup.
FIFA’s disciplinary code stipulates that extreme behavioural offences would warrant a maximum suspension that would last for two years or 24 matches.
In 2013’s Premier League, Suárez was banned for 10-games after biting Branislav Ivanovic of Chelsea.
According to reports, if he is found guilty, he is most likely to pay £1million fine. Sponsors, Adidas and 888poker, are now reviewing their deals with the football superstar after he was caught on camera taking Italian cuisine to a whole new level by biting Chiellini.
Chiellini labelled Suárez a sneak who can get away with any violations because FIFA protects him being a high profile player.
However, Suárez defended himself saying, his teeth simply got in contact with Chiellini’s shoulder, which is a pretty normal thing to happen in the field. He added, that it would be complicated for FIFA to analyse the case.
FIFA vice-president Jim Boyce, who is also the referees’ committee chairman, said the necessary action should be taken hinting that Suárez could be suspended for a long time if proven guilty.
Suárez also bit PSV Eindhoven’s Otman Bakkal in November 2010 when he was playing for Ajax; he was banned from seven games for that behavior.
