FIFA
announces investigation into Luis Suarez bite on Giorgio Chiellini
FIFA
announced it has opened an investigation into Uruguay striker Luis Suarez's
apparent bite on Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini in his side's 1-0 win on
Tuesday. Since the incident went unpunished during the match and was not
included in the match official's report, it now falls under the FIFA
Disciplinary Committee's jurisdiction. Classed as a "serious
infringement," the minimum ban Suarez faces is two matches and the maximum
is two years.
With
Uruguay's round of 16 match against Colombia scheduled for Saturday, June 28,
the call for evidence has been expedited — the deadline for submission being
Wednesday at 5 p.m. Brasilia time.
FIFA can
confirm that disciplinary proceedings have been opened against the player Luis
Suarez of Uruguay following an apparent breach of art. 48 and/or art. 57 of the
FIFA Disciplinary Code during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ match
Italy-Uruguay played on 24 June 2014. The player and/or the Uruguayan FA are
invited to provide with their position and any documentary evidence they deem
relevant until 25 June 2014, 5pm, Brasilia time.
Suarez was
banned seven matches by the Dutch FA the first time he bit an opponent in 2010.
Then in 2013, he was banned 10 matches by the English FA for biting Chelsea's
Branislav Ivanovic. Now he must answer to a higher power in FIFA and for a
third unthinkable offense (fourth if his eight-match ban for racially abusing
Manchester United's Patrice Evra in 2011 is considered, and it should be), it's
only logical that his next ban should be longer than his last. But FIFA rarely
operates within the confines of logic.
Following
Italy's loss to Uruguay, Chiellini said, “Suarez is a sneak and he gets away
with it because FIFA want their stars to play in the World Cup. I’d love to see
if they have the courage to use video evidence against him."
Uruguay
manager Oscar Tabaraz dismissed the incident, though, saying, "It's a
World Cup, we don't do cheap morality."
And Suarez,
now with a hat trick of bites to his name, reportedly told a Uruguayan TV
station after the match, "These are just things that happen out on the
pitch."
Post a Comment