adminFIFA has promised that its disciplinary committee will come to an “urgent decision” on Luis Suárez’s bite into Giorgio Chiellini’s shoulder.
The world football governing body opened disciplinary proceedings into the incident late on Tuesday night after the Uruguay player prompted outrage by apparently sinking his teeth into the Italian’s shoulder.
“The disciplinary committee understands the urgency of the matter and is working to make a decision as soon as possible, particularly as Uruguay are still in the tournament,” said a Fifa spokeswoman, indicating that it would come to a quick decision.
“They have already showed they are fully aware of the urgency of the matter. They will address the matter with the necessary urgency.”
Fifa’s independent disciplinary committee was expected to meet after 5PM yesterday, the deadline Uruguay and Suárez were given to provide evidence and witness statements to make their position clear.
The independent committee, chaired by the former Switzerland striker Claudio Sulser, has requested footage of the incident from a variety of angles, and other evidence.
“Let the disciplinary committee do their duty and wait until they have their decision. The body deciding the sanction decides the scope of it,” the spokeswoman said. “We have to wait, we will communicate as soon as we have an update. For the moment we don’t have more to say on that matter.”
Fifa has the power to ban Suárez for up to two years and, theoretically, to extend any ban to domestic as well as international football.
However, while it has suspended officials and executives from all football activities in the past, sanctions applied to players have almost always only applied to international matches.
The Fifa spokeswoman said she was “not aware” of any plans for Suárez to go to Rio de Janeiro to be interviewed. Instead, Uruguay will submit written evidence. “The player deserves to be heard,” she said.
Uruguay, scheduled to play Colombia on Saturday in Rio, trained in Natal yesterday but Suárez did not take part.
Fifa pointed to article 118 of its rulebook, which states that if a ban is of less than three matches or two months then there is no right of appeal. However, Uruguay would still be able to appeal to the court of arbitration for sport. In previous cases during the World Cup or Olympics, CAS has convened emergency sessions to come to a quick decision on whether it will hear an appeal.
Suárez’s lawyer flew to Rio de Janeiro yesterday to present his defence. “We’re polishing off a defence argument,” Alejandro Balbi told local radio in Uruguay, where many people support the Liverpool striker and feel he is being unfairly singled out by media in Europe.
“We don’t have any doubts that this has happened because it’s Suárez and secondly because Italy were eliminated,” added Balbi, who is also a Uruguay FA board member. “There’s a lot of pressure from England and Italy.”
Balbi added: “There is a possibility that they ban him because there are precedents, but we’re convinced that it was an absolutely casual play, because if Chiellini can show a scratch on one shoulder, Suárez can show a bruised and almost shut eye,” Balbi said. “We’re going to use all the arguments possible so that Luis gets out in the best possible way.”
Whatever the outcome of Fifa’s investigation, the biting accusations could have an impact on Suárez’s commercial value.The Poker brand 888 said yesterday it was “seriously reviewing” its sponsorship agreement with him after Suárez became one of the online gambling company’s brand ambassadors last month. “We will not tolerate unsporting behaviour.”
Suárez is sponsored by Adidas which, following his previous biting incident with Branislav Ivanovic, reminded the striker of his responsibilities. Executives from the sportswear manufacturer met in Rio to discuss the latest incident yesterday.
A spokesperson said: “Adidas is aware of the issue involving Luis Suárez. We await Fifa’s full investigation into this matter and will respond accordingly.” — The Guardian
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