Did Suarez try to bite Chiellini before?

Make your own mind up – did the Uruguay striker already try to take a nibble out of the Italy defender’s shoulder at the Confederations Cup last year?


The world was stunned when Luis Suarez appeared to sink his teeth into Giorgio Chiellini’s shoulder during Uruguay’s World Cup win over Italy on Tuesday.

The 1-0 win for Oscar Tabarez’s side, courtesy of a Diego Godin header, was overshadowed when Suarez tangled with the Juventus defender in the penalty box.

The 27-year-old thrust his head towards Chiellini before tumbling towards the ground claiming he had been elbowed.

Closer analysis of the footage appeared to show Suarez taking a bite into the stopper’s shoulder and there were visible marks when the Italy international moved down his shirt while protesting to the referee.

However, the widespread coverage of the incident has brought about the circulation of an image that may show Suarez had already attempted to bite Chiellini 12 months ago.

At the Confederations Cup in 2013, Italy defeated Uruguay on penalties in the third-place play-off. Pictures from the match could indicate that the striker had already tried to bite his rival, who was equally infuriated as they clashed on the pitch last summer.

Once bitten, twice shy | Chiellini appeared to be outraged at the Confederations Cup
Fifa is investigating the latest incident, which has seen the Liverpool striker widely condemned – and he could now be facing the third long-term ban of his career related to biting.

In 2010, while playing for Ajax, Suarez bit PSV’s Otman Bakkal to earn himself a seven-match suspension. In April of last year, his infamous nibble on Branislav Ivanovic during Liverpool’s clash with Chelsea saw him banned for 10 matches.

Amazingly, Suarez’s nibble was profitable for one World Cup punter: Thomas Syversen, a Norwegian, placed a pre-tournament bet on the Uruguayan to bite an opponent at odds of around 175-1, meaning he pocketed a cool €668 because of the controversy.

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