FIFA receives Uruguay appeal against Suarez ban

Uruguay have filed an appeal with FIFA against a lengthy ban imposed on Luis Suarez for biting an opponent at the World Cup, football's ruling body said Thursday.

FIFA spokeswoman Delia Fischer did not say when the appeal's committee would make a decision.

The Uruguayan federation had until Monday to appeal the ban of nine national team matches and four months from all football activities. Suarez was sanctioned by FIFA's disciplinary committee for biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini on the shoulder during a match last week.

The Liverpool striker has since apologised for what was the third biting offence of his career.

Chiellini has said the ban is too harsh, a view shared by FIFA vice-president Julio Grondona, who told Cadena Cope radio Thursday that the decision was hasty and that the appeal's committee should look at "rehabilitating" Suarez rather than "killing him."

Disciplinary committee chief Claudio Sulser defended the sanction, saying justice had been done.

Sulser also reaffirmed that Suarez's ban from football activities did not include transfer activities, which include a mandatory medical. The forward has been linked with a move to Barcelona.

"The sanction is not linked to transfer rights." Sulser said.