Suarez accepts 10-game suspension

Banned ... Luis Suarez has accepted a 10-game suspension. Source:AFP

Liverpool forward Luis Suarez on Friday said that he did not appeal against a 10-match ban for biting an opponent because he did not want to give "the wrong impression'' about his unacceptable behaviour.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Man United	34	27	3	4	43	84
2	Man City	33	20	8	5	29	68
3	Arsenal	34	18	9	7	30	63
4	Chelsea	33	18	8	7	31	62
5	Tottenham	33	18	7	8	17	61
6	Everton	34	14	14	6	13	56
7	Liverpool	34	13	12	9	19	51
8	West Brom	33	13	6	14	-1	45
9	Swansea	33	10	12	11	1	42
10	West Ham	34	11	9	14	-7	42
11	Fulham	34	10	10	14	-8	40
12	Southampton	34	9	12	13	-7	39
13	Norwich	34	8	14	12	-20	38
14	Sunderland	34	9	10	15	-7	37
15	Stoke	34	8	13	13	-11	37
16	Newcastle	34	10	7	17	-17	37
17	Aston Villa	34	8	10	16	-27	34
18	Wigan	33	8	7	18	-23	31
19	QPR	34	4	12	18	-27	24
20	Reading	34	5	9	20	-28	24

The Football Association (FA) governing body had earlier revealed that the Uruguay striker had not lodged an appeal after he was suspended on Wednesday for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic on the arm.

The decision means the 26-year-old Uruguay international will miss the final four matches of the English Premier League season and the first six of the next campaign.

Suarez posted a link on his Twitter account (luis16suarez) in which he explained his decision, saying that he hoped for a swift return and to learn from the experience to improve his behaviour.

"I would like to explain to everybody that I decided to accept the ban because whilst 10 games is clearly greater than those bans given in past cases where players have actually been seriously injured, I acknowledge that my actions were not acceptable so I do not want to give the wrong impression to people by making an appeal,'' he said.

He also restated his apology for his actions, saying he was ``truly very sorry'' about the incident with Ivanovic.

The FA later issued a statement saying the penalty was designed to ``discourage any players at any level from acting in such a deplorable manner or attempting to copy what they had seen on the television.''

The FA Regulatory Commission report read: ``The incident of biting an opponent is alien to football and must remain so.''

The panel also chided Suarez for not appreciating the gravity of his bite.

"This truly shocking incident had been seen by millions of viewers both domestic and overseas, as well as generating a great deal of interest and debate amongst countless numbers of people.''

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers criticised the FA for indicating ahead of the hearing that the suspension would top the statutory three matches.

Rodgers said: "If you are an independent panel and yet the day beforehand the FA come out and say he (Suarez) will serve more than three games it is not independent because they are already putting pressure on the sanction.

"There is a prejudice there straightaway.''

Suarez is currently the Premier League second top scorer with 23 goals, one behind Manchester United's Robin Van Persie.

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Suarez hit with 10-game ban for bite

Long rest ... Suarez will miss the rest of this season and the start of next season. Source: Andrew Yates / AAP

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has been suspended for 10 matches for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic in last weekend's Barclays Premier League match at Anfield.

"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 Football Association said on its website.

"The suspension begins with immediate effect," it added, effectively ruling him out for the start of next season.

Liverpool were quick to react, with managing director Ian Ayre declaring the club was "shocked and disappointed" by the "severity" of the FA's decision.

Suarez has until midday Friday (9pm AEST) to appeal the additional suspension to the violent conduct charge against Ivanovic in Sunday's 2-2 draw.

The Uruguayan striker had pleaded guilty to the charge but had denied the FA's claim that his initial three-match ban was not enough.

The 26-year-old Suarez is no stranger to lengthy bans.

In 2010 he was suspended for seven matches in the Netherlands when he sank his teeth into PSV Eindhoven's Otman Bakkal, leading to him being dubbed the "Cannibal of Ajax".

And last year the FA banned him for eight matches and imposed a £40,000 ($A60,000) ban for racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra.

French defender Evra made fun of Suarez after United captured the Premier League title with victory over Aston Villa on Monday by producing a bloodied fake arm.

Suarez has apologised to Ivanovic, who suffered a bruised arm from the bite, and the Chelsea defender has acknowledged the apology.

Liverpool moved quickly to deal with the latest crisis surrounding their star striker and imposed a club fine which is being donated to the support group for families affected by the Hillsborough stadium disaster, in which 96 people died.

The latest controversy came just two days after Suarez was named on the shortlist for the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year award.

With the votes already counted, the forward will remain eligible for the award.

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