Luis Suarez Bitten With 10-Match Ban

Luis Suarez will not play football again until September after he was hit with a 10-match ban for his astonishing bite attack on Branislav Ivanovic.

The striker accepted a charge from the FA for violent conduct on Tuesday but took the bizarre step, backed by his club, of making it clear to the governing body that they will appeal should the  independent disciplinary commission have decided upon a more severe punishment than the standard three-match suspension.

A statement on the FA website said: 'A three-person Independent Regulatory Commission today upheld The FA’s claim that a suspension of three matches was clearly insufficient and the player will serve a further seven first-team matches in addition to the standard three. The suspension begins with immediate effect.

'The Liverpool forward had accepted a charge of violent conduct but had denied The FA’s claim that the standard three-match sanction was insufficient for the offence.

'The incident was not seen by the match officials and has therefore been retrospectively reviewed.

'Suarez has until midday on Friday 26 April to appeal the additional suspension, above the standard three matches.'

Liverpool themselves were left shocked by the decision, which sees Suarez banned for two games more than he received after being found guilty of racially abusing Patrice Evra in 2011.

The club's managing director Ian Ayre said: '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.'