Luis Suárez to have CAS hearing next week

Luis Suárez will appear before the court of arbitration for sport on August 8th as Barcelona seek to have the Uruguay forward training with them in little over two weeks.

CAS has summoned Suárez to appear at their headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, after it agreed to fast-track the appeal against his four-month ban from all football-related activity for biting Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup in Brazil. The case will be dealt with at an "express" hearing, with a decision likely just a few days after Suárez and Barcelona present their case.

If the appeal is successful, the 27-year-old could train start with his new team-mates as early as mid-August, although his suspension from playing is almost certain to be unaffected.

As things stand he is likely to make his debut against Real Madrid on the weekend of 25 October.

Fifa upheld Suárez's four-month ban at the beginning of July after an appeal by the player and the Uruguayan football federation, but it confirmed that the ban will not stand in the way of any transfer and he completed his move from Liverpool to Barcelona the following day.

Barcelona defender Gerard Piqué believes an “angry” Suárez will be desperate to prove himself when he returns to action.

“I expect that he, like anybody who has the possibility of having their work taken away from them, will be feeling rage,” Pique said.

“For the time being he has to wait,” added the Spain defender. “When he returns he will be full of desire to show that he is one of the best forwards on the planet.” Guardian Service