Contrite Suarez accepts FA ban

Luis Suarez faces the prospect of missing the last four games of this campaign and the first six of next season.

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has asked for forgiveness after accepting a 10-match ban for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic during last weekend's English Premier League match.

The Uruguayan had until yesterday lunchtime to contest the English Football Association's decision to add seven games to the usual three for a violent conduct charge but opted against it.

"I hope that the people I offended last Sunday will grant me forgiveness and I again repeat my personal apology to Branislav," Suarez said on his Twitter account.

"While 10 games is clearly greater than those bans given in past cases where players have actually been seriously injured, I acknowledge that my actions were not acceptable on the football pitch so I do not want to give the wrong impression to people by making an appeal."

Suarez, who bit Ivanovic on the arm during the 2-2 draw at Anfield last weekend, will not be eligible to play for Liverpool in domestic competition until September.

The FA charged 26-year-old Suarez with violent conduct and its Independent Regulatory Commission decided on Wednesday that the automatic three-game ban for a violent conduct charge was not sufficient, adding a further seven matches to his suspension.

Liverpool, which fined Suarez, reiterated its disappointment with the FA's decision to ban Suarez for 10 games.

"The charges against Luis were his to consider and we have to respect his decision to not appeal the 10-game ban," managing director Ian Ayre said. "We are all disappointed at the severity of the punishment and, in particular, the differing standards that have been applied across various previous incidents."

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers was also critical of the FA for the severity of the Uruguayan's punishment and there was some sympathy from rival managers yesterday.

"In this case, the proportionality looks very severe considering what other players have been punished for," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told reporters.

"I think what has gone completely against Suarez is his history, that is very heavy on the offense front."

Manchester City's Roberto Mancini said during his Friday news conference: "Five or six games was enough, this is my opinion but I don't work for the FA."

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