Rio de Janeiro, June 25 (IANS): In an eventful World Cup day that saw Italy sent packing and Greece reach the knockout stage for the first time, Uruguay striker Luis Suarez hogged the spotlight - for allegedly biting a man.
World soccer body FIFA confirmed it had started disciplinary proceedings against him Wednesday and Suarez or the Uruguayan Football Association can submit evidence to investigators, reports Xinhua.
The incident happened at the 80th minute when Suarez and Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini got tangled up in front of the Italy goal. Suarez was caught clearly by television cameras sinking his teeth into Chiellini's shoulder.
Although the Italian footballer pleaded and pulled down his jersey to show a red mark on his shoulder, the referee didn't call a foul. A minute later, Diego Godin nailed Uruguay's 1-0 victory over the four-time champions.
Suarez didn't confirm or deny the bite in a post-game interview, but he hoped people wouldn't take it seriously.
"These are things that happen on the pitch," Suarez pointed to his own eye, which appeared bruised after possibly taking a blow in the same incident with Chiellini.
It was not the first time 27-year-old Suarez was embroiled in a biting controversy. He was given a seven-match ban for biting PSV Eindhoven's Otman Bakkal while playing for Ajax in 2010 and thus got the nickname "the Cannibal of Ajax".
In 2013, he was banned for 10 games by the English FA after biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic in a match at Anfield while playing for Liverpool.
Suarez's biting soon became one of the hottest topics on the Internet and social media accounts worldwide.
Evander Holyfield, who was chomped by Mike Tyson on the ear during their 1997 title fight, tweeted Tuesday: "I guess any part of the body is up for eating."
Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen also tweeted: "Tell me I'm seeing things. Surely Suarez didn't bite someone again? I'm genuinely gutted. I love watching him play more than any other player but he obviously can't control himself."
FIFA will announce the ruling before Uruguay plays against Colombia slated for Saturday.