Liverpool’s striker could still face an FA probe after admitting his behaviour during a clash with Chelsea was ‘inexcusable’.
Liverpool’s Luis Suarez has apologised for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic during a Premier League clash.

The striker said sorry on his personal Twitter account around three hours after the final whistle blew on the game at Anfield.

He wrote: �I’m sad for what happened this afternoon, I apologize Ivanovic and all football world for my inexcusable behaviour. I’m so sorry about it!!”

In a statement issued through his club, he added: �I have issued an apology and have tried to contact Branislav Ivanovic to speak to him personally.

�I apologise also to my manager, playing colleagues and everyone at Liverpool Football Club for letting them down.”

The FA says it will review match footage � seen by millions of television viewers � that shows Suarez biting the Chelsea defender on the arm.

Cameras captured the striker appearing to sink his teeth into his opponent’s upper arm during the second half.

Ivanovic remonstrated with referee Kevin Friend following the incident and the match official briefly spoke to Suarez before allowing the game to continue.

The match ended 2-2, with Liverpool’s controversial star � who is a contender for this year’s player of the season awards � scoring an equaliser in the dying seconds.

Liverpool’s managing director Ian Ayre said: �Luis has made an unreserved apology for his actions today.

Suarez apologised on his Twitter account a few hours after the incident.
�His behaviour is not befitting of any player wearing a Liverpool shirt and Luis is aware that he has let himself and everyone associated with the club down.

�We will deal with the matter internally and await any action from the FA.”

The club’s manager Brendan Rodgers added: �Having reviewed the video footage and spoken to Luis, his behaviour is unacceptable and I have made him aware of this.”

Speaking on Sky Sports, former Liverpool manager Graeme Souness said Suarez had �crossed a line”.

He said: �I’m not sure what to make of it. Embarrassing. He’s making it very difficult for himself to stay at Liverpool, that puts him in the last chance saloon.

�Most important is safeguarding the good name of the football club. Liverpool are world renowned. People will be talking about this for a long, long time, and it will show Liverpool in a very bad light.

�This is not the first time he has bitten someone in the football match. He is risking everything this great club stands for. I’ve never seen something like that in a football match before.

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers told Suarez the bite was �unacceptable”.
�There are lines you just can’t cross, and he has crossed it today.”

Suarez, 26, was banned for seven games by the Dutch football authorities after biting an opponent on the shoulder while playing for Ajax in 2010 � an incident that earned him the nickname �the Cannibal of Ajax” in the tabloid press.

In 2011 he was handed an eight-match ban and fined �40,000 after the FA found him guilty of racially abusing Patrice Evra during a game against Manchester United.

Professional Footballers’ Association chief Gordon Taylor was coy over whether he would support a punishment, but he expressed his dismay at the incident.

He told Sky Sports News: �It was not good to see to say the least. It was unacceptable.

�I know it’s a really difficult one for Liverpool and the FA are going to have to deal with it.”

But Marseille’s Joey Barton took to Twitter to urge Liverpool to back their player.

He wrote: �Suarez is a good as a player as there is in world football at the minute. Yes, he’s messed up and shouldn’t have bitten another player but a player like him has to play right on the edge.

�Without it he wouldn’t be the talent he is. LFC would be mad not to back him IMO. If they don’t I’m sure the queue of Champions League clubs would stretch round the block.”

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