Fifa bans biter Luis Suarez

FIFA has banned Uruguay striker Luis Suarez for nine international matches and barred him from all soccer activities for four months for biting an opponent.

The heaviest punishment ever inflicted on a player at a World Cup finals effectively booted Suarez out of the tournament in shame following his clash with Italy's Giorgio Chiellini on Tuesday.

It is the third time the 27-year-old striker, one of the best players in the world, has been banned for biting an opponent.

The nine-match ban would be effective immediately, ruling him out of Uruguay's World Cup second-round match tomorrow against Colombia, Fifa spokeswoman Delia Fischer said.

As part of the ban, Suarez will not be allowed into a stadium for four months. He was also fined $112000 (R1.2-million).

There could be further repercussions for Suarez from his English Premier League club, Liverpool, who will be without their star player's services for some time when the league kicks off in August.

Meanwhile, Ghana stars Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng had both been indefinitely suspended from their national team for disciplinary reasons, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) said yesterday.

AC Milan midfielder Muntari, 29, was accused of attacking a member of the management team, Moses Armah, while Schalke 04 midfielder Boateng, 27, was said to have verbally abused national team coach Kwesi Appiah, the GFA said on its website. – AFP