Luis Suarez FIFA appeal rejected – Striker ready for Barcelona move

Luis Suarez has his appeal against his 4 month football ban rejected.

The Uruguayan was also handed a 9 game international game ban and a fine from FIFA for biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini in the final group game at the World Cup.

A FIFA statement read:

The FIFA Appeal Committee has decided to reject the appeals lodged by both the Uruguayan player Luis Suarez and the Uruguayan FA, and to confirm the decision rendered by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee on 25 June 2014 in its entirety.

The terms of the decision taken by the FIFA Appeal Committee were communicated to the player and the Uruguayan FA today.

Suarez can still refer his case to the Court of Arbitration of Sport if he so chooses.  The Italian defender had issued his surprise at the 'sentence' but it made no difference to the FIFA committee.

Signing for another football club clearly doesn't fall under FIFA's definition of 'footballing activity' and Barcelona are expected to complete a £75M deal for the player at a similar time that Chilean striker Alexis Sanchez will transfer to Arsenal for around £35M.

Negotiations between Barcelona and Liverpool were swift - highlighting the release clause that was inserted when the player signed a new contract late last year.

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