Fifa Opens Disciplinary Proceedings Over Luis Suárez 'Bite'

TheGuardian ^ | Wednesday 25 June 2014 | Tom Lurtz

[nickcarraway]

Fifa has opened disciplinary proceedings against the Uruguay striker Luis Suárez after he appeared to bite Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini.

“Fifa can confirm that disciplinary proceedings have been opened against the player Luis Suárez of Uruguay,” the body said in a statement. Suárez could face a ban of up to 24 matches if found guilty.

The incident occurred during Uruguay’s 1-0 victory over Italy, a result that knocked the 2006 champions out of the World Cup. With the score at 0-0, Suárez leaned into Chiellini before appearing to bite his opponent’s shoulder. Suárez was not punished by the referee but Fifa said the proceedings related to any “infringements which have escaped the match officials’ attention”.

Earlier in the day, senior Fifa official Michel D’Hooge told the BBC that “biting is not compatible with normal football practice”.

Jim Boyce, Fifa’s vice-president and head of the body’s referees committee, also took a dim view of the incident. “I have watched the incident several times on television. There is no doubt Luis Suárez is a fantastic footballer but, once again, his actions have left him open to severe criticism,” said Boyce. “Fifa must investigate the incident seriously and take whatever disciplinary action deemed necessary.

[nickcarraway]

I don't claim to to know a lot about soccer, but if they give this guy only a 24 game suspension for his third biting, aren't they just encouraging him to do it again?

[Dr. Sivana]

I don't claim to to know a lot about soccer, but if they give this guy only a 24 game suspension for his third biting, aren't they just encouraging him to do it again?

How many games a year do they play?

[Scoutmaster]

Technically, the ban could include club games, but generally only applies to internationals. The longest ban ever given by FIFA before this was eight games on Italy’s Mauro Tassotti for breaking Spain’s Luis Enríque’s nose in 1994 with an elbow.

Uruguay only played seventeen international games in 2013, so a 24-game suspension could be nearly 1-1/2 years.

[Scoutmaster]

Note I said FIFA's longest previous suspension has been eight games.

There are other regulatory agencies. Suárez was suspended for ten games in 2013 when he bit Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic. The suspension came from the Independent Regulatory Commission of the English Football Association. Suárez played for Liverpool.

[nickcarraway]

I read he is still on Liverpool, thought they may not want him back. But, in this case, shouldn’t FIFA suspend him for international and club games. He keeps biting, in either type of game.

[kevkrom]

Who’s going to take Suarez off of Liverpool’s hands now, though? At least for a price that Liverpool could possible accept?

It’s infuriating in the sense that he’s a brilliant player, and having one of those amazing, unstoppable years, and it’ll end with leaving his national team in the lurch after a moment of madness. Despite his Premiere League suspension, which cost him roughly 20% of the season, he still scored at a record pace, easily tallying the most goals in the league. This should have been his glorious season where he put the past demons behind him.

But now... since the bylaws say they can’t give him a permanent ban, at least throw the maximum 2-year sentence at him.

[Scoutmaster]

He is still on Liverpool. I was also wrong. Apparently 24 international games is considered a two-year suspension.

I'd rather see FIFA keep him out of international play for two years. Let club play handle his club play.

[RayChuang88]

FIFA should throw the book at Suarez and ban him from playing at the professional level until the start of the European soccer season in August 2015--in effect, a total one-year ban on playing. Suarez's temper could end cup cutting his career short.

[Tijeras_Slim]

It seems to be a natural progression.

[the scotsman]

A top player will play 50-60 club games, then add on 6-10 internationals for his country.