Liverpool ‘shocked’ by ten-game ban for Suarez

LUIS Suarez and Liverpool were left “shocked and disappointed” last night after the striker was hit with a ten-match ban for ­biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic – a sanction that could see him suspended from domestic football until October.

Suarez has been given a ten match ban. Picture: Getty

The severity of the ban caught Liverpool by surprise and the club, which will wait to see the written reasons today before deciding whether to appeal, will now have to make a decision over whether to sell the Uruguay striker.

Suarez missed eight matches last season due to his racist abuse ban after a confrontation with Manchester United’s Patrice Evra and, following the punishment imposed by a Football Association independent regulatory commission, now faces the prospect of missing the last four games of this campaign and the first six of next season.

Liverpool’s managing director Ian Ayre, who this week insisted the club were determined to keep Suarez, said in response to the decision: “Both the club and player are shocked and disappointed at the severity of today’s independent regulatory commission decision.

“We await the written reasons tomorrow before making any further comment.”

Suarez had admitted violent conduct after biting Ivanovic during the 2-2 Barclays Premier League draw with Chelsea on Sunday afternoon but challenged the FA’s contention that he deserved more than a three-match ban.

There is no standard minimum or maximum punishment for biting in football’s disciplinary code, unlike rugby union which has a 12-week recommended suspension for first offences up to a four-year ban for the most serious biting offences.

Suarez had apologised on Monday to Ivanovic, who suffered a bruised arm from the bite, and the Chelsea defender acknowledged the apology.