Rio de Janeiro: Football disciplinary chiefs gathered evidence against Luis Suarez on Wednesday as calls mounted for the Uruguay star to be kicked out of the World Cup after his latest biting storm.
The Liverpool striker shocked the footballing world when he sank his teeth into Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini during Uruguay’s 1-0 victory over the Azzurri on Tuesday.
Suarez, banned twice before for biting opposing players, could be expelled from the tournament if found guilty.
Suarez and Uruguayan officials have until 5:00pm (2000 GMT) to submit evidence to a disciplinary panel set up by football’s governing body FIFA.
“The disciplinary committee is working to get a decision as early as possible,” FIFA spokeswoman Delia Fischer said when asked if a decision would likely be made before Uruguay’s last-16 match against Colombia on Saturday.
Fischer would not speculate on the possible terms of any punishment, although she confirmed Suarez’s prevoius offences could be taken into account.
“The disciplinary committee can take all elements into account as it deems necessary,” she said.
While Suarez had “a right to be heard”, he was not expected to travel to Rio from Uruguay’s training base to address any disciplinary hearing, Fischer said.
Suarez was nowhere to be seen early on Wednesday as his Uruguay team mates trained in Natal amid the raging controversy. Suarez, who plays in the English Premier League for Liverpool, is one of the world’s biggest stars, and could theoretically be banned for up to 24 games under FIFA rules.
Fischer declined to say whether any potential punishment of Suarez could extend to club football as well as international football.
“It’s the disciplinary committee which decides the scope of any potential sanctions,” she said.
Suarez has already received long bans for biting during his club career as well as racially abusing Manchester United player Patrice Evra during a game in 2011.
The latest flashpoint occurred towards the end of Uruguay’s clash with Italy. Replays showed Suarez biting Chiellini’s shoulder as the two players made contact in an off-the-ball incident.
Chiellini angrily remonstrated with Mexican referee Marco Rodriguez, pulling his shirt off his shoulder to show red marks on his neck.
Afterwards, Chiellini told Italian television: “He bit me, it’s clear, I still have the mark.” (AFP)
