URUGUAY star Luis Suarez was hit with a global four-month ban for biting an opponent on Thursday as World Cup chiefs imposed the heaviest sanction against a player in the tournament’s history.

Suarez, who bit Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini during his team’s Group D win on Tuesday, was kicked out of the tournament with immediate effect and fined 100,000 Swiss francs ($112,000).

“Such behaviour cannot be tolerated on any football pitch, and in particular not at a FIFA World Cup when the eyes of millions of people are on the stars on the field,” FIFA Disciplinary Committee chief Claudio Sulser said.

FIFA’s sanction came as news of a meltdown in Ghana’s squad, with top players Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng banished from the tournament following a dispute over bonuses. Ghana play Portugal on Thursday.

Football’s governing body imposed a fourth month ban on all football activities, a nine game international ban and the fine. The punishment took immediate effect, meaning Suarez misses Uruguay’s second round match against Colombia on Saturday in Rio de Janeiro.

The ban from football activity prevents him from entering the stadium for Saturday’s game. It will also hit his club career with Liverpool in England’s Premier League as he cannot play until the end of October.

Toughest ban in history 

The sanction was the toughest ever handed down for foul play at a World Cup, surpassing the eight-match ban against Italy’s Mauro Tassotti in 1994 for an elbowing which broke the nose of Spain’s Luis Enrique.

It is the third time Liverpool star Suarez has been banned for biting players following incidents in 2010 in the Dutch league and 2013 in England.

He also received a long ban in 2011 for racially abusing Manchester United’s French international Patrice Evra.

“The Disciplinary Committee took into account all the factors of the case and the degree of Mr Suarez’s guilt in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Code,” Sulser said in a statement.

Uruguay football officials had argued against a ban, insisting Suarez had not bitten anyone and claiming the player was the victim of a media witch-hunt.

Uruguayan President Jose Mujica had led the defence of the 27-year-old, telling reporters on Wednesday: “I did not see him bite anyone.”

But the speed and severity of FIFA’s punishment reflected the widespread revulsion throughout the football world at an incident which was captured clearly on television footage.

There was also photographic evidence of Chiellini’s bite mark that he tried to show the referee immediately following the incident.

Suarez’s clash with Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini has culminated in the Uruguayan striker being handed a lengthy ban. AFP Photo

Chiellini himself told Italian television: “He bit me, it’s clear, I still have the mark.”

Suarez sought to play down the incident in comments to Uruguayan television, claiming Chiellini had barged him.

“There are things that happen on the pitch and you should not make such a big deal out of them,” Suarez said.

Sponsors unimpressed

FIFA had faced mounting calls to issue a heavy sanction given Suarez’s previous disciplinary history.

Suarez’s sponsor Adidas responded to the punishment by saying it “fully backs” FIFA’s decision.

The company said it was dropping Suarez for all campaigns during the World Cup.

“We do not accept the recent behaviour of Luis Suarez and shall remind him of the high standards we expect of our players,” an Adidas spokeswoman said.

Although many in Uruguay believe that Suarez is being unfairly persecuted, an exception was ageing national hero Alcides Ghiggia, who scored Uruguay’s World Cup-winning goal against Brazil in the 1950 tournament.

“This boy’s clearly not right in the head. That’s just not something you do on the pitch,’ said Ghiggia.

Elsewhere Thursday more controversy erupted in the Ghana camp, as Muntari and Boateng were axed from the African giants squad following bust-ups with management.

The Ghana Football Association accused Muntari, 29, of attacking a member of the management team, Moses Armah. Boateng, 27, is said to have verbally abused national team coach Kwesi Appiah.

The suspension came one day after the Ghana government said it was airlifting $3 million (2.2m euros) to Brazil to resolve a financial dispute with players, who boycotted training on Monday.

On the pitch, Germany and the United States started their game in Recife despite floods in the city. Both teams needed only a draw to progress from Group G.

That result would see Portugal and Ghana eliminated from the tournament.

In later games Belgium will aim to clinch first place in Group H when they play South Korea while Algeria will attempt to reach the last 16 for the first time when they face Russia.

AFP