Suarez says bite wasn't intentional

Uruguay attacker Luis Suarez has claimed that he

did not deliberately bite Italy's Giorgio Chiellini during

their Group D encounter on June 24.

Referee Marco Rodriguez failed to spot the incident in

the 79th minute of Tuesday's match, but Fifa opened

an investigation into the incident after video footage

showed the Liverpool forward's teeth making contact

with Chiellini's shoulder.

When asked by Fifa's Disciplinary Committee to give

his stance on the incident, Suarez wrote that he never

intended to bite the Italy defender, but that the incident

was the result of a set of unfortunate events.

"In no way [did] it happen how you have described, as

a bite or intent to bite," read Suarez's official defence

to Fifa, according to AP .

"After the impact ... I lost my balance, making my

body unstable and [making me] fall 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."

Fifa's Disciplinary Committee eventually handed the

27-year-old a heavy ban as they decided the

attacker's bite was "deliberate, intentional and without

provocation".

Suarez was handed a nine-game ban from

international football, while he was also suspended

from taking part in any kind of football-related activity

(administrative, sports or any other) for a period of

four months and fined €82.000.

The Uruguayan FA revealed immediately after Fifa's

decision was announced that they would appeal the

ban.

Meanwhile, Suarez took to social networking website

Twitter to thank those who had sent him messages of

support.

"Hi all, I write this post to give thanks to [sic] the

outpouring of support and love I am receiving. Both

myself and my family really appreciate it," wrote the

striker.

"Thank you very much for being by my side and I

want you all today to support my fellow team-mates

for the match against Colombia."