海角大神

Uruguay may have won their World Cup game against Italy on Tuesday, but the team may lose their star striker Luis Su谩rez for the rest of the competition.

Su谩rez collided with Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini late in the second half of the game, brought his head down into his opponent鈥檚 shoulder, and apparently bit him.

Chiellini was not able to get the referee to notice the bite during the match. Later, Chiellini called not sending Su谩rez off 鈥渞idiculous,鈥� adding that the fact that he was bitten was "absolutely clear," according to the聽Associated Press.

Now, it's up to FIFA to decide the fate of Su谩rez 鈥� who has a reputation for aggressive play, and a record of previous dental encounters.聽

The World Cup's governing body said in a statement that they "can confirm that disciplinary proceedings have been opened against the player Luis Suarez of Uruguay.鈥�

According to聽Reuters, Uraguay has until 5 p.m. Brazil time today to "provide their position and any documentary evidence they deem relevant," on the incident, after which they will decide what penalties, if any, to impose on Su谩rez.

FIFA's disciplinary code sets a maximum ban of 24 matches or two years. The longest suspension FIFA has聽聽imposed for World Cup offense was an eight-game ban against Italy's Mauro Tassotti for breaking Spain's Luis Enrique's nose in 1994.

So, FIFA's deliberations may have to include such questions as: Is chomping on a player's shoulder more or less egregious than a broken nose? How flagrant does an injury have to be for an equivalent eight-game ban? Will FIFA take into account Suarez's penchant for dental work on opponents?

If Uruguay plays all four games that it could potentially have left in the tournament, it would be a surprise if Su谩rez is banned for any less time, according to some soccer pundits.

Technically, it's possible that Su谩rez may face no disciplinary action. But given that there is a video of the incident (being played over and over again) which may be used as evidence against him, it's unlikely that Su谩rez will escape without any sanctions.

The video is further supported by photographs of what appear to be toothmarks on Chiellini鈥檚 shoulder.

What's Su谩rez history with this kind of alleged attack? He was banned for seven games in 2010 for biting, and then for ten games in 2013 for the same reason.

Su谩rez is known for his temper and controversial behavior. According to the聽New York Times, there have been a number of other dirty plays on his record, as well a number of racist comments against a black opponent, which earned him a suspension.

Su谩rez had vowed to overcome his negative image. Referring to his previous biting incidents, he is quoted as saying that his bad reputation on the field was 鈥渘ot what I want to be remembered for. I want to do things right. I really, really do.鈥�

If he does genuinely want to reform, Su谩rez聽may one day look back on Tuesday鈥檚 events not as a team victory, but as a personal defeat.