World Cup

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Attendance: 39,706

World Cup | Group Stage

Jun 24, 2014 at 5pm UK

Italy
0-1
Uruguay

Marchisio (60')

FT(HT: 0-0)

Godin (81')

Luis Suarez: 'I did not intend to bite Giorgio Chiellini'

By Simon Sinclair, Reporter | 28 June 2014

Uruguay striker Luis Suarez is adamant that he did not intend to bite Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini, insisting that he fell into the centre-back.

Uruguay striker Luis Suarez has revealed that he did not intend to bite Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini and has insisted that he fell into the Juventus man.

The 27-year-old was handed a four-month ban from all football activity following the incident in Oscar Tabarez's side's 1-0 win over the Azzurri in their final Group D game.

However, Suarez is adamant that the melee was not intentional, claiming that he fell into Chiellini which caused pain in his cheek and teeth.

He wrote in a letter to FIFA, according to The AP: "In no way it happened how you have described, as a bite or intent to bite. After the impact ... I lost my balance, making my body unstable and falling on top of my opponent.

"At that moment I hit my face against the player leaving a small bruise on my cheek and a strong pain in my teeth."

Uruguay boss Tabarez resigned from his role on FIFA's technical committee as a result of Suarez's punishment.