Luis Suarez: Fifa confirm Uruguay have lodged an appeal into the length of the ban Liverpool striker was handed for biting Giorgio Chiellini

Suarez was banned nine international games and for four months from all football activity

Luis Suarez (Getty Images)

Fifa have confirmed that the Uruguayan football association have officially launched an appeal into the length of the ban Luis Suarez received for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini.

The Liverpool striker was banned for nine international matches and from all football-related activity for four months, as well as being fined 100,000 Swiss Francs (£66,000).

Suarez will not be able to play for any club until October but he would be allowed a potential move from Liverpool to Barcelona.

Claudio Sulser, the head of Fifa's disciplinary committee, said that an all-encompassing ban was the "risk" the player took.

Asked why the committee imposed a ban that damaged Liverpool, Sulser said: "That's your opinion. It's a sanction against the player. That is the risk if you are a player and you are sanctioned at the World Cup.

"I agree with you it's a problem for Liverpool, but the sanction is in the disciplinary regulations."

Initially Suarez offered a laughable defence to the Fifa Disciplinary Committee, saying: "I lost my balance... falling on top of my opponent... I hit my face against him, leaving a small bruise on my cheek and a strong pain in my teeth."

Earlier this week, however, he then admitted to biting the defender and apologised to Chiellini.

"The truth is that my colleague Giorgio Chiellini suffered the physical result of a bite in the collision he suffered with me... I apologise to Giorgio Chiellini and the entire football family.

"I vow to the public that there will never be another incident like this."

Chiellini took to Twitter to respond to Suarez, posting: "It's all forgotten. I hope FIFA will reduce your suspension."

Sulser added that the Suarez bite was "a very severe case" but that the sanctions were not to set an example, but for "justice".

He added: "This is still an ongoing case and an appeal has been filed, so I prefer not to give my opinion.

"When the committee was analysing this case, one thing I mentioned in my capacity as the chairman is we don't need to impose an exemplary sanction, we need to have justice and reached the sanction in a very severe case."

Additional reporting from PA