Suarez Banned For 10 Games For Biting Ivanoviç

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has been
suspended for 10 matches for biting
Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic in last
weekend's English Premier League
match at Anfield, the Football
Association said on Wednesday.
"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 FA said on its
website thefa.com.
"The suspension begins with immediate
effect," it added, effectively ruling him
for the start of next season.
Liverpool were quick to react, with
managing director Ian Ayre declaring the
club was "shocked and disappointed" by
the "severity" of the FA's decision.
Suarez has until midday (1100 GMT) on
Friday to appeal the additional
suspension to the violent conduct charge
against Ivanovic in Sunday's 2-2 draw.
The Uruguayan striker had pleaded guilty
to the charge but had denied the FA's
claim that his initial three-match ban was
not enough.
The 26-year-old Suarez is no stranger to
lengthy bans.
In 2010 he was suspended for seven
matches in the Netherlands when he
sank his teeth into PSV Eindhoven's
Otman Bakkal, leading to him being
dubbed the "Cannibal of Ajax".
And last year the FA banned him for
eight matches and imposed a £40,000 ($
60,000, 46,000 euros) ban for racially
abusing Manchester United's Patrice
Evra.
French defender Evra made fun of Suarez
after United captured the Premier
League title with victory over Aston Villa
on Monday by producing a bloodied fake
arm.
Suarez has apologised to Ivanovic, who
suffered a bruised arm from the bite, and
the Chelsea defender has acknowledged
the apology.
Liverpool moved quickly to deal with the
latest crisis surrounding their star striker
and imposed a club fine which is being
donated to the support group for
families affected by the Hillsborough
stadium disaster, in which 96 people
died.
The latest controversy came just two
days after Suarez was named on the
shortlist for the Professional Footballers'
Association Player of the Year award.
With the votes already counted, the
forward will remain eligible for the
award.