FIFA probes Suarez's biting incident

Rio de Janeiro, June 25 (IANS) World soccer body FIFA has started a probe into Uruguay striker Luis Suarez for allegedly biting a rival in Tuesday's World Cup game against Italy.

Suarez allegedly bit defender Giorgio Chiellini during Uruguay's 1-0 win over 10-man Italy in Natal.

TV replays showed Suarez bumping into the Italian defender while jostling for space in the penalty area, late in the second half.

The Liverpool striker dropped his head into Chiellini's shoulder and the Juventus defender immediately fell to the ground.

Mexican referee Marco Rodríguez paid no heed to Chiellini's attempts to pull his collar aside and show what appeared to be bite marks on his left shoulder.

But after the match FIFA announced that it had opened disciplinary proceedings against Suarez.

"FIFA can confirm that disciplinary proceedings have been opened against Luis Suarez following an apparent breach of article 48 and/or article 57 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code... The player and/or the Uruguayan FA are invited to provide with their position and any documentary evidence they deem relevant," said a FIFA statement.

This is not the first time Suarez finds himself on the brink of a potential lengthy ban for biting. The first incident took place in 2010 when he was playing for Dutch club Ajax Amsterdam. He was suspended for seven matches for biting an opponent, and later was sold to English club Liverpool.

Before leaving for Liverpool, Suarez had apologised for the incident and vowed to display better behaviour. But his word's meant little as in 2013 Suárez was caught on video, missed again by the referee, biting Branislav Ivanovic of Chelsea.

The shameful incident earned him a 10-game ban and the three-member disciplinary panel made a point to criticize Suarez for not appreciating the "seriousness" of his actions.

Suarez also racially abused Manchester United's Patrice Evra during a Premier League match and was banned for eight matches and fined 40,000 pounds.