Luis Suarez biting ban upheld but striker allowed to train

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: The four-month ban on Luis Suarez was upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Thursday. However, the only respite for the Urguayan is he can now train with his team-mates at Barcelona. FIFA had banned the 27-year-old from all football-related activity for four months and nine international matches, after he bit Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini in a group game at the World Cup. At the time of the ban, the Uruguyan was plying his trade at Liverpool. But he was then sold to Barcelona for £75m. During the last hearing in Lausanne, the legal team of the player had argued that he be allowed to train with Barcelona during the suspension. They also wanted the ban to be restricted only to international matches so Suarez could play in the La Liga when his team faces Elche on August 24, which is when the new season starts in Spain. Richard Scudamore, Chief Executive of the English Premier League criticised Suarez on Wednesday for damaging the reputation of England's top flight league. Scudamore said: "He`s great to have but an accident waiting to happen, and if you spend your time trying to promote what`s good about the Premier League, you`re always waiting for the next thing to come along. "And this one in the summer, although it was with Uruguay, although it didn`t directly involve the Premier League, clearly it reflected on Liverpool as one of our great clubs and it reflected on us. "He`s done his time here, but I can`t say I`m sorry to see him go. I think it was good business on a number of levels from Liverpool to move Suarez on." The former Liverpool striker will now be available for the Catalan club when they take on arch-rivals Real Madrid on 26 October in the “El Classico”. Apart from training, Suarez can now take part in promotional activities as well.