Premier League - 10-game ban for Luis Suarez after Ivanovic bite

The Liverpool striker pleaded guilty to the charge, which the FA had said in an earlier statement would require a ban of more than three games. Suarez is expected to contest the length of the ban, however; Liverpool had indicated that he would appeal if the ban was longer than three matches. They will have until midday on Friday April 26 to contest the punishment.

In the aftermath of the verdict Liverpool said that they would wait to read the full written reasons before making a fuller statement, but expressed their disappointment.
Liverpool'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."

There is no standard minimum or maximum punishment for biting in football's disciplinary code, unlike rugby union which has a 12-week recommended suspension for first offences, and up to a four-year ban for the most serious biting offences.

"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 FA statement read.

Liverpool have four games remaining this season, and should the 10-match ban stand, it would rule the Uruguayan out of domestic football until around late-September.

This is the second major ban that Suarez has been hit with in his two and a half years at Liverpool - he was punished for racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra with an eight-game suspension.