Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has been banned for four months by Fifa for biting Italy's Giogio Chiellini.
The ban covers any footballing activity and means he will not be able to play for the Reds until November.
Suarez was also fined 100,00 Swiss francs and suspended from the next nine Uruguay internationals.
An appeal may be lodged by the player or the Uruguay FA.
The biting incident took place in Tuesday's World Cup clash in Natal, with Uruguay striker Suarez sinking his teeth into Chiellini's left shoulder as the pair came together in the penalty area.
The offence was missed by match referee Marco Rodriguez but Fifa launched an immediate investigation.
The verdict was announced at 2.30pm today during Fifa's daily World Cup press conference at the Maracana stadium in Rio.
|
Liverpool striker Luis Suarez
was suspended
for one match,
fined £20,000 and warned
as to his future conduct after
admitting
giving "an abusive hand gesture"
to Fulham
fans following the 1-0 defeat
at Fulham
on 5 December 2011. |
It is the third time Suarez has been banned for biting an opponent. He bit Otman Bakkal of PSV Eindhoven while playing for Ajax in 2010 and repeated the offence on Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic in a match at Anfield in 2013.
The disciplinary hearing into Suarez's latest indiscretion started on Wednesday and ran into Thursday. Suarez's lawyer Alejandro Balbi, who is also a Uruguay FA board member, travelled to Rio to defend the striker.
Suarez's actions led to widespread condemnation from fans, former players and pundits all around the world.
Fifa promised a swift investigation into the incident, with a spokesman for the game's governing body saying: "The disciplinary committee understands the urgency of the matter and is working to make a decision as soon as possible, particularly as Uruguay are still in the tournament.
"They have already showed they are fully aware of the urgency of the matter. They will address the matter with the necessary urgency."
Uruguay won Tuesday's game 1-0 and take on Colombia in the round of 16 on Saturday.