Football
ESPN staff 10y

Uruguay confirm Luis Suarez appeal

The Uruguayan FA has confirmed that it will appeal against the ban imposed on striker Luis Suarez for his bite on Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini.

Suarez was banned for nine international matches and from all football for four months by FIFA's disciplinary committee after the incident, which happened as Uruguay progressed to the round of 16 with victory over the Azzurri.

FIFA head of media Delia Fischer told a news conference in Rio de Janeiro: "We have received a declaration that they are planning to appeal. They informed us of their intention to appeal yesterday evening."

Fischer said Uruguayan football officials had seven days in which to submit the appeal in writing.

Meanwhile, Suarez -- who denied that he had bitten the defender -- released a statement through social media channels to thank fans for the support he had received.

"Hi all, I write this post to give thanks to the outpouring of support and love I am receiving," the statement said.

"Both myself and my family really appreciate it. Thank you very much for being by my side, and today we support the team for the match against Colombia."

Suarez had told FIFA's disciplinary panel that he did not deliberately bite Chiellini, writing in Spanish that "in no way it happened how you have described, as a bite or intent to bite."

The player's defence was in paragraph six of FIFA's ruling, which has been seen by The Associated Press.

Suarez wrote: "After the impact... I lost my balance, making my body unstable and falling on top of my opponent. At that moment I hit my face against the player, leaving a small bruise on my cheek and a strong pain in my teeth."

But the seven-man panel ruled that the bite was "deliberate, intentional and without provocation."

Kenny Dalglish, the manager who brought Suarez to Liverpool in 2011, has urged the club to stand by him again.

Dalglish believes the player -- who he strongly backed him after he was found guilty of racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra -- needs help to address his problems and said he was confident Liverpool would not turn their backs on him.

Writing in the Daily Mirror, he explained: "It is my belief that, when you bring a player to a football club, he becomes your responsibility. You don't just turn you back on a player because he has done something wrong.

"I think you will find that Liverpool will not turn their back on Suarez, whatever the ban FIFA have decided he must serve.

"Some people have injuries you can't see. Sometimes, when people have something wrong with them, just because they don't have a plaster cast on their leg, people think they don't need help."

Dalglish's call for Suarez to be offered professional help echoed that of the European players' union FIFpro, which said proper treatment should have been included in his punishment.

In a statement, it said: "Luis Suarez should receive all the support he needs to deal with any off-field issues he may be experiencing at this time."

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