FA show anti-racism the finger as they hand Suarez 10 game ban for bite

The Football Association has incredibly handed Liverpool striker Luis Suarez a massive 10-game ban for his bite on Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic at the weekend.

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The Uruguay international bit the arm of the Serbian international during the second half of Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Chelsea at Anfield, before going on to score the winner.

The 10 game suspension is 6 more than what the F.A. handed Chelsea‘s John Terry for using a racist term last year, and 2 more than Suarez received for the same offence in a clash with Patrice Evra in 2011.

Suarez’s ban is longer than the one handed out when Ben Thatcher elbowed Pedro Mendes in the face, knocking him unconscious in 2006.

So biting is more serious than racism then, right.

An F.A. statement released on Wednesday afternoon reads:

“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 Liverpool forward had accepted a charge of violent conduct but had denied The FA’s claim that the standard three-match sanction was insufficient for the offence.

“The incident was not seen by the match officials and has therefore been retrospectively reviewed.

“Suarez has until midday on Friday, 26 April to appeal the additional suspension, above the standard three matches.”

It is not known who the three-man panel consisted of.

Should Suarez accept the ban and not appeal, he will miss Liverpool’s final four games of the current campaign and opening six of the 2013/14 season.

Liverpool and Suarez are yet to make a response as they await the F.A.’s reasons for the heafty suspension.

Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre responded:

“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.”

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