Luis Suárez Suspended for 9 Official Matches, Banned for 4 Months After Biting Italian Opponent

FIFA disciplinary committee announced the decision today

Luis "The Cannibel" Suárez has officially been banned from "any football related activity for a period of four months," the FIFA disciplinary committee announced today.

FIFA's decision stems from an incident which occurred during Tuesday's World Cup match between Italy and Uruguay. The Uruguayan striker, who has previously bitten players three times during his career, was accused of biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini  (and in case you had any lingering doubts, the incident was of course caught on camera).

Suárez will be suspended for nine official matches, beginning with the upcoming World Cup game between Colombia and Uruguay, which is set to take place on Saturday.

"The remaining match suspensions shall be served in Uruguay's next FIFA World Cup match(es), as long as the team qualifies, and/or in the representative team's subsequent official matches," FIFA announced in a statement.

Additionally, Suárez is "prohibited from entering the confines of any stadium during the period of the ban" and he has been ordered to pay a fine of $100,000 Swiss Francs—approximately $111,801.

FIFA had begun investigating the incident on Wednesday follow Uruguay's victory over Italy and announced the verdict on Thursday.

"Such behaviour cannot be tolerated on any football pitch, and in particular not at a FIFA World Cup when the eyes of millions of people are on the stars on the field. The Disciplinary Committee took into account all the factors of the case and the degree of Mr Suárez's guilt in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Code. The decision comes into force as soon it is communicated," Claudio Sulser, chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, said.

Meanwhile, today's big World Cup game between the U.S. and Germany has officially begun and in case you're itching to leave the office to tune in to the action then have no fear, US soccer coach Jürgen Klinsmann has you covered with a note you can share with your boss.

So grab your red, white and blue, ditch your desk and hit up your local sports bar (it's 5 o'clock somewhere, right?). After all, it's all in support of Team USA!