Reds striker will now not be available for the club until at least September.
Liverpool front man Luis Suarez has been banned by The Football Association (FA) for ten matches for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic on the upper arm in the Premier League at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.
The Uruguay international was charged with violent conduct by the game’s governing body on Monday but the FA specifically asked for the normal three-game ban not to be applied in this instance due to the severity of the incident.
The 26-year-old attacker has previous when it comes to biting an opponent, having also bitten PSV Eindhoven midfield player Otman Bakkal while playing for Ajax during an Eredivisie clash in December 2011.
The Dutch FA opted to ban the controversial forward for seven games, while his own club also banned the player for two matches and hit him with a fine, with Suarez never playing for the Amsterdam giants ever again.
It is not yet known whether Liverpool will appeal the decision, but the Reds’ managing director Ian Ayre released this statement on the club’s official website after the ruling: “Both the club and player are shocked and disappointed at the severity.”
Suarez has until midday on Friday to appeal against the ban.
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