Panel noted that the incident had become top-trending topic on Twitter.
The Football Association (FA) have released its written reasons for handing out a ten-game ban to Liverpool striker Luis Suarez for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic on the arm at Anfield in the Premier League on Sunday.
Suarez announced on Friday that he will not challenge the ban, which will see him miss the final four games of this season and the next six domestic matches of next term.
The FA’s independent commission was chaired by the chairman of the FA Women’s Premier League, Thura KT Win, while former Wales international Brian Talbot was also on the panel.
Surprisingly, no consideration given to Suarez’s previous conduct by the panel, which noted in item 22: “We did not take into consideration previous disciplinary records of Mr Suarez” and “considered offence in isolation.”
Meanwhile, item 62 went on to add that: “Mr Suarez contended that, whilst not seeking to diminish his own actions, it is his reputation that has been damaged”.
The panel said that one of it’s reasons for the size of the ban was: “It is completely unacceptable and such truly disgraceful behaviour could also lead to possible health issues”.
However, perhaps the most eye-catching explanation for hitting the Uruguay international with such a long suspension was that the: “Incident was both headline news around the country and the top trend on twitter worldwide.”
But, when it comes down to it the commission felt that in questioning his additional ban on top of the normal three-match suspension for violent conduct: “Suarez has not fully appreciated the gravity and seriousness of truly exceptional incident”.
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