Reality bites as Suarez lands 10-match ban

Luis Suárez bit the Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic after becoming embroiled in a tussle with him.

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez was banned for 10 matches by the English Football Association yesterday for biting an opponent during an English Premier League match, ruling him out for the rest of the season.

Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre said Suarez and the club were "shocked and disappointed" at the punishment.

The FA said in a statement that a three-man independent panel ruled that the regular suspension of three games for violent conduct was "clearly insufficient" after Suarez bit Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic on the upper right arm during the 2-2 draw at Anfield last Sunday. He wasn't sent off because the referee didn't see the incident, which was reviewed retroactively.

Suarez has until tomorrow to appeal against the extra seven-game ban. "We await the written reasons tomorrow before making any further comment," Ayre said in a Liverpool statement.

He is no stranger to lengthy bans.

The Uruguayan was banned for seven matches in 2010 for a similar offense while playing for Ajax Amsterdam against PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch league, with Otman Bakkal the victim.

He was suspended for eight games in December 2011 for making racist insults toward Manchester United defender Patrice Evra during a match.

Suarez has apologized to Ivanovic, who suffered a bruised arm from the bite, and the Serbian defender has acknowledged the apology.

Liverpool moved quickly to deal with the latest crisis surrounding its star 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. Until United forward Robin van Persie's hat-trick against Aston Villa on Monday that sealed the title, Suarez was leading scorer in the league with 23 goals.

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