I did not set out to bite Chiellini – Suareaz

Luis Suarez’s defence against a charge of biting an opponent was that he lost his balance and hit his face on Italy’s defender, Giorgio Chiellini’s shoulder, it has emerged.
Suarez’s claims, which were dismissed by FIFA’s disciplinary committee, are contained in the full written reasons of the ruling, a copy of which has been seen by Press Association Sport.
Suarez said in his submission: “After the impact I lost my balance, that destabilised me and I fell on top of my opponent.
“At this moment I hit my face against the player leaving a small bruise on my cheek and a strong pain in my teeth and that’s why the referee stopped the match.
“That is what happened and in no way was there any case of biting or intending to bite.”
The seven-man disciplinary panel dismissed his arguments and imposed a four-month ban from all football, plus nine international matches and a 100,000 Swiss francs fine (approximately £65,000).
The panel’s ruling stated: “The commission took into account that the offence was made directly against a player while the ball was not in dispute and that the offence was deliberate and intentional and without provocation.
“He bit the player with the intention of wounding him or at least of destabilising him.
“In such context the committee observes that the player had been sanctioned on previous occasions in club competition for similar acts.”
FIFA has been formally informed of the Uruguay FA’s intention to appeal against the sanctions on Suarez.
The Uruguay football federation will now have a further seven days to prepare the paperwork for the appeal.
FIFA’s Head of Media, Delia Fischer, told a news conference in Rio de Janeiro: “We have received a declaration that they are planning to appeal. They informed us of their intention to appeal yesterday evening.
“The reasons for the appeal must now be given in writing within a deadline of seven days after the three days has expired.”
The Liverpool striker has left the World Cup in Brazil and returned to Uruguay.
Uruguay’s Coach, Oscar Tabarez, suggested the English media were to blame for the “excessive” sanction and announced he was standing down from his role on FIFA’s Technical Study Group because he thought the World Cup record ban was too harsh.