Luis Suarez to FIFA: I did not bite Giorgio Chiellini, I lost my balance

Luis Suarez insists he did not try to bite Giorgio Chiellini

In a letter to FIFA, Uruguay striker Luis Suarez told FIFA’s disciplinary committee that he was not guilty of biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini in the final Group D match at the World Cup on Tuesday.

Suarez was punished with a 9 match ban and a 4 month ban from any football activities two days ago. The Liverpool striker was sent home and is back in Uruguay after he was also fined €82,000.

He states in his letter that his actions were not interpreted correctly.

"In no way it happened how you have described, as a bite or intent to bite,” Suarez wrote. "After the impact ... I lost my balance, making my body unstable and falling on top of my opponent.

"At that moment I hit my face against the player leaving a small bruise on my cheek and a strong pain in my teeth."

FIFA disagree

But FIFA’s seven member panel were not to be moved.

The committee’s statement read: “The bite was ‘deliberate, intentional and without provocation,’”

The referee for the match, Marco Rodriguez, the linesmen as well as the fourth official did not see the incident which was confirmed by the committee.

In a witness statement, Rodriguez said: "I haven't seen the incident because the ball was in another sector of the pitch,"

FIFA’s head of media Delia Fischer also said: "We have received a declaration that they are planning to appeal. They informed us of their intention to appeal yesterday evening.

"The reasons for the appeal must now be given in writing within a deadline of seven days after the three days has expired."