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Luis Suarez bite: Poker firm to review sponsorship deal with Suarez

Poker firm reviewing deal with Uruguayan

Charles Reynolds
Thursday 26 June 2014 15:16 BST
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Italy's Giorgio Chiellini (L) claims he was bitten by Uruguay's Luis Suarez (R) during the FIFA World Cup 2014 group D preliminary round match between Italy and Uruguay at the Estadio Arena das Dunas in Natal, Brazil
Italy's Giorgio Chiellini (L) claims he was bitten by Uruguay's Luis Suarez (R) during the FIFA World Cup 2014 group D preliminary round match between Italy and Uruguay at the Estadio Arena das Dunas in Natal, Brazil

As the fallout from Luis Suarez's apparent bite on Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini continues, poker brand '888' have announced they will be reviewing their sponsorship deal with the forward.

The firm released a statement saying: “Following the allegations made against Luis Suárez in regards to his behaviour during Uruguay’s World Cup match against Italy, 888poker is seriously reviewing its relationship with the player as we will not tolerate any unsporting behaviour.”

However considering the firm only hired Suarez as an 'official worldwide ambassador' last month, it would seem a little late to be taking the moral high ground.

In May Itai Pazner, a senior vice-president of the company, labelled Suarez “an incredible sporting talent – passionate, competitive, technically gifted, and emotionally invested in the game. It’s those qualities that make him an exciting player to watch, in poker as well as football. It’s fantastic to have him on board.”

It seems odd that a firm that now claims not to "tolerate any unsporting behaviour" went out of its way to hire and then praise a man twice banned for biting opponents and even more seriously once for racially abusing another player.

If that wasn't enough of a warning then you wonder what would have been.

Fifa have launched an inquiry into the incident and are set to make an announcement at 9pm this Wednesday.

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