Fifa have banned Uruguay’s Luis Suárez from all “football-related activities” for four months for biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini, ruling the striker out of the rest of the World Cup and the first nine game of the premiership and three of the champions league games next season for Liverpool.
The ban could mean that Liverpool will be more willing to consider a possible £67 million bid for the player from Barcelona.
Suárez has also been banned for nine competitive international matches, beginning with Uruguay’s last-16 game with Colombia and fined £66,000.
However, Fifa clarified that Suarez’s ban did not block any possible transfer from Liverpool.
“Such behaviour cannot be tolerated on any football pitch, and in particular not at a World Cup when the eyes of millions of people are on the stars on the field,” said Claudio Sulser, the chair of the disciplinary committee which imposed the ban. Suarez may still appeal.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher is of the opinion that the player in now likely to leave, writing in his Daily Mail column: “Liverpool might actually be relieved if Barcelona or Real come in with a bid that triggers a move.
“If a lucrative offer arrives in the next few weeks, I am convinced Suarez will be playing his football somewhere else next season.”