Ajax captain Luis Suarez gets seven-game ban for biting
Baku, November 25 (AZERTAC). Ajax captain Luis Suarez has accepted a seven-match ban for biting PSV Eindhoven midfielder Otman Bakkal`s shoulder in Saturday`s 0-0 league draw.
His club, who have unilaterally fined and banned the Uruguayan for two games, will not appeal against the punishment.
Suarez will be sidelined domestically until 4 February next year, but remains eligible for European competition.
The striker`s three goals in the 2010 World Cup were overshadowed by his red card in the quarter-final with Ghana.
The 23-year-old`s deliberate handball on the line in the dying seconds of the game in Johannesburg - which earned him his dismissal - prevented a certain goal and Asamoah Gyan missed the resulting penalty.
Uruguay subsequently went through on penalties before being beaten in the semi-final by the Netherlands - a game Suarez missed through suspension.
Saturday`s incident against PSV happened in stoppage time after referee Bjorn Kuipers showed Ajax`s Rasmus Lindgren a straight red for a rough tackle on playmaker Ibrahim Afellay.
Suarez argued with Bakkal, who stood on the Uruguayan`s foot, prompting him to bite the PSV midfielder`s shoulder, although the incident was missed by the referee.
In reaching their decision over the severity of Suarez`s punishment, the Dutch Football Federation said they had taken the player`s previous conduct into account.
The forward, who has scored seven goals this season, still had a suspended one-match ban hanging over him following a red card in the season-opening Johan Cruyff Bowl match in July.
Although he will miss Ajax`s next six Eredivisie fixtures, and the Dutch Cup tie with AZ, Suarez will be eligible to play in the Champions League group match against AC Milan on 8 December.
Ajax`s 4-0 home defeat by Real Madrid on Tuesday ended their hopes of reaching the knockout stage but they can finish third in Group G to clinch a consolation place in the Europa League.
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