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| Luis Suarez (9) holds his teeth after running into Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini’s shoulder during the group D World Cup soccer match between Italy and Uruguay at the Arena das Dunas in Natal, Brazil, Tuesday, June 24, 2014 |
FIFA announced early Wednesday that its disciplinary committee has opened proceedings against Suarez, just hours after the end of Tuesday’s match. Which saw the Uruguay striker biting an Italian defender Giogio Chiellini.
FIFA asked the team to present evidence, which can include video recordings, by 5 p.m. local time (2000 GMT) Wednesday.
If the panel finds Suarez guilty of assaulting an opponent, FIFA rules call for a ban of at least two matches up to a maximum of 24 months.
Uruguay won the
match by beating Italy 1-0 on Tuesday in Natal. One minute before the decisive
goal, Suarez clashed with Chiellini and was caught by television cameras
apparently biting his shoulder.
The referee Marco Rodriguez of Mexico was not
aware of the incident and took no action.
According to Luis
Suarez, “These are things that happen on the pitch, we were both in the area,
he thrust his shoulder into me,” Suarez said in Spanish. “These things happen
on the pitch, and we don’t have to give them so much (importance).”
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