Football
ESPN staff 10y

Report: CAS date set for Suarez review

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has agreed to review the appeal of Luis Suarez's ban for biting an opponent during the second week of August with an open and quick process, Spanish news agency Efe said on Thursday, citing unnamed sources.

CAS is also expected to evaluate, as the defence has requested, that cautionary measures be applied while the case is under review, according to Efe sources.

- Suarez could return in time for Clasico

Should Suarez serve out his entire four-month, nine-match international ban, his first match back could be El Clasico: Real Madrid vs. Barcelona, now scheduled for the weekend of Oct. 25-26. However, that will depend on the Spanish television deal decision. Suarez's ban ends on Oct. 26, a Sunday. 

AS.com reports that the date of the first clasico of the season will be determined by the Spanish television companies -- a Saturday fixture would mean Suarez would miss it because of his suspension.

Uruguay international Suarez is serving a four-month worldwide suspension from football-related activity after biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini during a World Cup match in the Brazilian city of Natal on June 24.

The ban -- which also keeps him out of his national team's next nine matches -- does not apply to transfers, so the 27-year-old was able to complete a 75-million-pound move to Barcelona last week.

But Suarez cannot play for Barcelona, train with his teammates or even attend their matches until late October. He was also barred from attending the news conference held by Barca to announce his arrival. Barcelona is hopeful for a ban reduction, and last week its president, Josep Maria Bartomeu, said the club would help Suarez integrate back into football.

FIFA's ban also prevents Suarez from being presented as a new Barcelona player, and it is not known whether he has undergone a physical for his new Catalan club.

La Liga announced its fixtures for the 2014-15 season on Thursday. If the terms are met and the CAS permits cautionary sanctions while the case is resolved, it would mean that Suarez could debut for Barcelona's first match on Aug. 24 vs. Elche.

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