Uruguayan soccer player Luis Suarez will miss nine international matches for his home country, as well as the next four months of all football activity after FIFA upheld his ban following an appeal.
Suarez was in the headlines weeks ago for biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini during the World Cup group stage. The incident happened as Suarez and Chiellini collided in the box with the score line at 0-0.
Suarez was recently acquired by Barcelona, who hopes to formally announce his signing on Thursday after Alexis Sanchez is confirmed as an Arsenal player according to The Daily Mail.
Barcelona is still negotiating with Liverpool, and could use the upholding of Suarez’s ban to persuade the Reds to lower their asking price.
Suarez spoke about the situation with Massimo Mariono of the Metro. “These situations arise on the pitch, I've collided with his shoulder. It drove me a little crazy too, but these things happen on the pitch. There's no need to make a story out of it."
Suarez has received suspensions in 2010 and 2013 for the sam incident.