Fifa rejects appeal over Luis Suárez ban for biting

Fifa has rejected an appeal by Luis Suárez and the Uruguay Football Federation against his four-month ban from all football activities for biting an opponent.

The appeal was lodged against the sanctions imposed on the Liverpool striker by Fifa's disciplinary committee for biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini. They included a nine-match international ban plus a 100,000 Swiss franc fine (€83,141.86).

Fifa's head of media Delia Fischer told a news conference in Rio de Janeiro: "The Fifa appeal committee has decided to reject the appeals lodged by both the Uruguayan player Luis Suárez and the Uruguayan FA, and to confirm the decision rendered by the Fifa disciplinary committee on June 25th, 2014 in its entirety.

“The terms of the decision taken by the Fifa appeal committee were communicated to the player and the Uruguayan FA today.”

Both the player and the AUF can make a further appeal to the court of arbitration for sport.

Fischer added: “The relevant decision is not yet final and binding, ie. an appeal to the court of arbitration for sport is still possible by the player and/or the Uruguayan FA, subject to certain conditions.”

The disciplinary committee’s initial decision took into account there had been no remorse from Suárez, and the fact it was the third time he had been involved in biting an opponent.

After lodging his appeal, Suárez did then issue a formal apology to Chiellini and vowed never to bite anyone again. The player was sent home from the World Cup in disgrace and faces being out of club football until the end of October, during which time he will not be allowed to train with a club.

Fifa has confirmed that the ban will not stand in the way of any transfer to Barcelona, who are close to agreeing a deal with Liverpool, nor of Suárez having a medical at a prospective new club.