Luis Suarez banned for nine matches, four months

Rio de Janeiro, June 26 (IANS) Uruguay striker Luis Suarez Thursday was banned for nine games and four months by world body FIFA for biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini during the team's 1-0 win in their last World Cup group match in Natal on Tuesday.

The ban was imposed on Suarez with immediate effect and he will miss Uruguay's pre-quarterfinal match with Colombia slated for Saturday.