Luis Suarez bites again as Italy exits World Cup
Italy goes home after losing to Uruguay 0–1 hours ago. To top it all off, team Azzurri’s exit has been mired with a controversial bite from Uruguay striker Luis Suarez and resignation announcements from team manager Cesare Prandelli and Italian Football Federation President Giancarlo Abete.
Moments before Uruguay sealed their win, Suarez was involved in an off the ball accident with Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini. Footage revealed that Suarez and Chiellini both fell on the floor. Suarez was holding his mouth after the fall while Chiellini chased the referee and pulled down his shirt to reveal bite marks.
Suarez holding his mouth with Chiellini in the background
Because the referee did not see the incident, no card was given. The Uruguay team meanwhile defended their teammate, saying they needed proof of the allegation and that Suarez is the target of bad propaganda.
However, photos and footage of the incident may just put Suarez in the brink of another suspension. Based on Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA’s) code, Suarez could get a 24-match (2-year) ban for the incident.
Giorgio Chiellini
Suarez is notorious for past controversies, including biting incidents to Branislav Ivanovic (2013) and Otman Bakkal (2010). He also hand-blocked a goal-bound shot by Ghana in the 2010 World Cup.
Here is the video of Luis Suarez’s biting history:
Meanwhile, Cesare Prandelli and Giancarlo Abete have both voiced their resignation from their posts after the disappointing loss of Italy, which finished 3rd in Group D. Italy’s last World Cup win was in 2006. Prandelli said that his resignation was ‘irrevocable.’
Italy’s coach, Cesare Prandelli
Prandelli said ‘I chose a certain technical plan and that’s why I am resigning, because it did not work. Something has changed since my contract was renewed. I don’t know why.’
The latest update on the controversial biting incident is that FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Luis Suarez. The Uruguayan forward and the Uruguayan Football Association have until 17:00 Brazilian time (22:00 CEST) on Wednesday to respond to FIFA.