RIO DE JANEIRO: FIFA has dismissed appeals by the Uruguay Football Association and Luis Suarez over the striker’s four-month global ban for biting, it was confirmed on Thursday.

“The FIFA Appeal Committee has decided to reject appeals lodged by both the Uruguayan player Luis Suarez and the Uruguayan FA,” a statement said.

Know more: 'FIFA opted for heavy sanction

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

The FIFA statement said the decision was not binding, meaning Liverpool star Suarez could still appeal to the CAS.

Suarez was thrown out of the World Cup and banned from all football activity for four months after being found guilty of biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini in a Group D game on June 24.

It was the third time Suarez had been found guilty of biting an opponent in his career.

Published in Dawn, July 11th, 2014