Uruguay’s striker Luis Suarez has lost a sponsor after he was banned for biting Italy’s defender Giorgio Chiellini during the 2014 FIFA World Cup group match on Tuesday.
Luis Suarezz
Online gambling firm 888poker said on Friday it had “decided to terminate its relationship’’ with “immediate effect’’.
The 27-year-old Liverpool FC player was handed a four-month ban by world football governing body FIFA after being found guilty of biting Chiellini during the match.
Liverpool FC are already seeking legal advice as Suarez cannot play for either club or country until the end of October.
He misses the rest of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, where Uruguay will play Colombia on Saturday in a Round of 16 match.
Suarez joined 888poker as a worldwide ambassador shortly before the World Cup, and produced several video diaries for the website during the tournament.
The video diary included one produced after his two goals in the 2-1 victory over England.
Suarez’s boot deal with Adidas could also be in jeopardy after the sportswear manufacturer announced on Thursday it would consider its partnership with the player.
Liverpool FC remain unsure whether Suarez will be allowed to train during his ban.
They appear to be thinking of the fact that the player is set to earn about three million pounds (about N780 million) during the time he is on the sidelines.
But while his future is unclear, it is understood the club have no intention of off-loading him on the cheap this summer.
Both FC Barcelona and Real Madrid are known to have had an interest in the player.
Suarez learned of his ban on Thursday after FIFA decided to open disciplinary proceedings.
He was judged to have bitten centre-half Chiellini on the left shoulder towards the end of Tuesday’s group game, which Uruguay won 2-1 to qualify for the next stage.
Suarez denied the allegations, claiming Chiellini had bumped into him.
But FIFA decided he was guilty and handed him the longest ban in World Cup history.
As well as a four-month ban from any football-related activity, Suarez was also given a nine-match international suspension.
Spanish side FC Barcelona, however, remain keen on signing the striker.
Meanwhile, Chiellini has said the four-month ban given to Suarez is excessive.
The Juventus FC player said he has “no feelings of joy, revenge or anger against Suarez’’.
Uruguay football officials say they plan to appeal against the suspension.
The decision to ban Suarez for four months has split opinion.
While the likes of former England captain Alan Shearer and ex-U.S. goalkeeper Brad Friedel have argued the ban is fair, reaction in Uruguay has largely been of anger.
Huge crowds gathered at Carrasco International Airport near Montevideo on Thursday as expectations grew that Suarez would be flying there.
Uruguay’s Sports Minister Liliam Kechichian said the punishment was a “disproportionate sanction’’ which “hurts us’’.
Also, Uruguay Football Association president Wilmar Valdez claimed the ban was “excessive’’.
“It feels like Uruguay has been thrown out of the World Cup.’’
Suarez’s lawyer, Alejandro Balbi, said the player was “totally distraught’’, while his grandmother, Lila Piriz Da Rosa, said her grandson had been treated like “a dog’’.
“Everyone knows what they’ve done to Luis. They wanted him out of the World Cup. Perfect, they did it.’’
Meanwhile, Liverpool say they will wait for the official report on the Suarez case before deciding their next move.
This is the third time the player has been banned for biting and he will miss nine Premier League games while he serves his latest suspension.
The Professional Footballers’ Association has again offered its services to Suarez after helping him following his 10-match ban for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic in April 2013.
“This is a human being who is clearly one of the best footballers in the world but he has this trait in his character which is so abnormal that needs looking at,” PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor said.
“We thought we’d got him back on track.’’
It remains to be seen whether Liverpool stick by Suarez, who had been linked with moves to FC Barcelona and Real Madrid prior to his ban.
Taylor also felt Suarez’s punishment would have major ramifications for players who regularly play international football.
“It’s going to increase that tension between club and country,’’ he said.
He argued that clubs would now think twice about allowing their players to feature for national teams.
“Clubs will think twice about allowing their players to feature for their country if they can suffer punishments on international duty which can impact on their involvement in their domestic leagues,’’ Taylor said.