Controversial striker Luis Suarez was today suspended for the next ten Liverpool first-team matches by the Football Association, the premier football board in England, for biting the arm of Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic during Sunday’s dramatic 2-2 draw at Anfield.
The decision was made by a three-member inquiry committee of the FA. The statement released by the FA reads, “a three-person independent regulatory commission today upheld the FA’s claim that a suspension of three matches was clearly insufficient and the player will serve a further seven first-team matches in addition to the standard three. The suspension begins with immediate effect.”
The ban means that Suarez will miss the remaining four Premier League matches for his club this season, and a further six in the beginning of the next season.
The Uruguayan striker is, however, no stranger to lengthy bans.
In his Ajax days, he was banned for seven matches for a similar biting incident during a match against PSV Eindhoven. Recently, and more controversially, he was awarded an eight-match penalty by the English FA for a racist rant against Patrice Evra of Manchester United.
While some people are a bit critical of the severity of the ban, it came as no surprise as the FA had warned while framing the charge of violent conduct against the striker that the usual ban of three matches would be insufficient in this extraordinary case.
However, the striker has the right to challenge the decision of the commission and can appeal against the decision till midday on Friday.
The loss of the striker would hang heavy on the fate of Liverpool, who at seventh place in the league at the moment, are fighting for next season’s European spots with Everton just ahead of them and West Bromwich Albion who are hot on their heels.