Suarez in hot water once more

Luis Suarez is waiting to learn whether his latest brush with controversy will result in an extended international suspension which could sideline him from Uruguay's remaining World Cup qualifiers.

The short-fused Liverpool striker played for Uruguay in their 2-0 defeat against Chile in Santiago on Tuesday evening when he appeared to aim a punch in the direction of an opponent's face.

Televised replays showed a coming together involving Suarez and Gonzalo Jara, the Chile defender, following which Suarez appeared to aim a blow towards Jara’s head.

Although Jara did not go to ground, the pair immediately became embroiled in a verbal altercation but the referee, Nestor Pitana, took no action. Pitana did, however subsequently book Suarez for protesting over an unrelated incident, thereby ensuring the striker will be suspended for Uruguay’s next qualifier, against Venezuela.

Depending on the content of the referee’s report – which is scheduled to be submitted to Fifa by today – football’s international ruling body could take retrospective action over the clash with Jara. The implementation of any sanction will hinge on whether the referee, or any of his officials, saw the exchange.

Fifa said: “We are still collecting all the post-match international reports, since the officials have got 24 hours to send them. Based on the mentioned reports, Fifa will proceed accordingly.”

Uruguay currently lie sixth in the South American group – outside the top-four automatic qualification places – in the race to Brazil 2014. Guardian Service