Liverpool Accept Suarez 10-Game Suspension

Liverpool have decided not to appeal the 10-game ban handed out by the FA to striker Luis Suarez following his bite on Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic last Sunday, according to Sky Sports News.

The controversial striker sunk his teeth into the Blues defender’s arm midway through the second half of the clash at Anfield, and with none of the officials seeing the incident at the time he was allowed to stay on the field to score an equaliser six minutes into injury time as the Reds salvaged a 2-2 draw.

The FA used retrospective action to find the Uruguayan guilty of violent conduct and an independent three-man panel slapped him with a 10-match suspension on Wednesday. Liverpool received written reasons for the decision on Thursday afternoon and have now decided against making an appeal over the ban despite the club feeling the punishment is excessive.

A statement on LiverpoolFC.com confirmed the FA’s announcement:

“Liverpool forward Luis Suarez has not appealed the suspension issued to him by an Independent Regulatory Commission this week.

“A three-person Independent Regulatory Commission upheld The FA’s claim that a suspension of three matches was clearly insufficient and the player will now serve a further seven first-team matches in addition to the standard three.

“The suspension begins with immediate effect and applies to Liverpool FC’s next 10 domestic first-team fixtures.

“This sanction followed an incident with Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic in Sunday’s fixture at Anfield (21 April 2013).

“The FA intends to publicise the Independent Regulatory Commission’s written reasons in due course.”

Suarez will now miss Liverpool’s remaining four games of this season as well as six other domestic fixtures next season.

What do you make of Liverpool’s decision not to appeal? Leave your opinions in the comments section below.