The Liverpool striker was handed a four-month ban from all football-related activity by Fifa on Thursday but the Uruguayan FA will not take it lying down

By Liam Twomey in Rio de Janeiro

Uruguay FA president Wilmar Valdez has confirmed the association will appeal Luis Suarez’s four-month ban for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini.

Fifa announced on Thursday that the Liverpool striker will be suspended for nine competitive international matches, banned from all football-related activity for four months and fined €82,000.

The punishment ends Suarez’s involvement in this summer’s World Cup and makes it highly likely that he will also miss Uruguay’s defence of their Copa America crown in Chile next summer.

But Valdez insists the Uruguay FA are not prepared to accept Fifa’s decision. “We are preparing our appeal now, we have three days to do it,” he said.

“It is an excessive decision and there was not enough evidence and I have seen more aggressive incidents recently.

“It is a severe punishment. I don’t know exactly which arguments they used but it is a tough punishment for Suarez.

“It feels like Uruguay has been thrown out of the World Cup. We all know what Suarez means to Uruguay and to football around the world – not having Suarez would be a loss to any team.”

Fifa also confirmed earlier on Thursday that any appeal from the Uruguay FA would not see the ban provisionally lifted to enable Suarez to face Colombia in the World Cup round of 16 at the Maracana on Saturday.