Luis Suarez faces record fine for biting Chiellini

Uruguay striker Luis Suarez could face a record penalty from FIFA after biting Giorgio Chiellini in the 1-0 win over Italy, in Group D of the 2014 World Cup.

Suarez committed unsportsmanlike conduct against Chiellini.

Specifically, according to FIFA's penalty framework (Article 19), the Uruguayan striker's behavior could result in a 2-year ban or a 24-match suspension for the national team.

"We are awaiting the official match reports and will gather all the necessary elements to assess this matter," a FIFA spokesman said after the controversial end to the match between Italy and Uruguay.

This means that the penalty for Luis Suarez was only given after FIFA reviewed the match tape and the report of Mexican referee Marco Rodriguez.

In the past, FIFA also gave a very heavy penalty to Italian player Mauro Tassotti. However, the highest penalty that this player received was an 8-match suspension for the Azzurri team.

The case of Mauro Tassotti took place in the 1994 World Cup quarter-final match between Italy and Spain. In that match, Tassotti's elbow that broke the nose of Luis Enrique (Spain) was overlooked by the referee, but after reviewing the video, FIFA issued the final punishment.

As for the case of Luis Suarez, after witnessing what happened, FIFA Vice President and Chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee Jim Boyce expressed great concern.

"I watched this situation carefully on TV. He is a great player, but this action will cause Suarez to face heavy criticism. If Suarez is guilty, he will receive a suitable punishment."

In the match that took place last night, in the 79th minute, right after Italy successfully neutralized an attack by Uruguay, Suarez suddenly bit Giorgio Chiellini on the shoulder, then rolled over and covered his face in a fake tantrum.

After this situation, the referee did not give any penalty because he said he did not see it, even though Chiellini showed him the bite mark for him to verify.

Referee Marco Rodriguez overlooked Suarez's unsportsmanlike conduct, but he certainly won't be able to escape punishment from FIFA when the evidence from 34 cameras installed on the field recorded everything, including the image of Chiellini pulling his shirt to show the referee the bite mark still on his left shoulder.

Previously, in 2010, while playing for Ajax, Suarez bit a PSV player on the shoulder and was banned for 7 matches. In 2013, while playing for Liverpool, Suarez repeated the act when he bit Chelsea defender Branislas Ivanovic on the hand and was suspended for 10 matches./.

According to VNA