Luis Suarez's Bite and Suspension: A Look at the Most Controversial Suspensions in Sports
While the 2014 FIFA World Cup is far from over, one of its most indelible moments may not be an incredible goal or the victorious nation hoisting the golden trophy but, rather, superstar striker Luis Suarez literally leaving his mark on the tournament -- and on Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini's shoulder.
Suarez, who made headlines worldwide Wednesday after he bit Chiellini in the shoulder during Uruguay's 1-0 victory over Italy in its final group game, was suspended by FIFA, soccer's governing body, from all soccer activity for four months, plus nine World Cup or other official national team games.
That means Suarez, who plays for Liverpool, will be out of action for the club when it starts the Premier League season and Champions League this fall.
In addition, Suarez, winner of the Professional Footballers' Association Players' Player of the Year award and the English Premier League's top scorer in the 2013-14 season, was fined the U.S. equivalent of $120,000 for the incident. While the suspension certainly complicates things for Suarez and the soccer sides that benefit most from his play -- Liverpool and the Uruguay National Team -- this isn't the first time Suarez has been involved in such a bizarre incident. In 2010, Suarez, playing for Dutch soccer club Ajax, was banned for seven games for biting PSV Eindhoven's Otman Bakkal during a match. And last year, Suarez sunk his teeth into Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic's arm and was barred for 10 English Premier League matches, one of the league's most severe punishments ever for an on-field infraction.
As controversial and bizarre as Suarez's chomping down on an opponent's shoulder was during the biggest soccer tournament around, there have been some pretty bizarre in-game incidents in sports over the last two decades that have warranted not only suspensions and penalties, but also widespread viral attention. Latin Post.com takes a look at some of the most bizarre sports incidents in recent memory:
Mike Tyson, The Holyfield Bite, 1997
It's not all that surprising that Suarez is drawing comparison to another infamous biter: Mike Tyson.
The former undisputed heavyweight boxing champion of the world made headlines -- and punchlines -- during his highly anticipated June 28, 1997, rematch with Evander Holyfield, who defeated him in a WBA world title match in November 1996. During the rematch, Tyson bit Holyfield's right ear not once, but twice; the second was so severe that Tyson bit off a piece of the ear and spit it out on the boxing ring floor. Tyson paid for it: Nevada boxing officials took $3 million from his $30 million fight purse, and the state's athletic commission revoked his boxing license.
Metta World Peace, "Malice at the Palace," 2004
Years back, the controversial Metta World Peace was named Ron Artest, and he was a defensive stopper as talented as he was troubled. Artest, playing for the Indiana Pacers, cemented his place in NBA infamy thanks to a game gone wrong on Nov. 19, 2004, at the Palace of Auburn Hills. The visiting Pacers were en route to a 97-82 blowout over the defending NBA champion Detroit Pistons when a fight broke out between Artest and Pistons All-Star Ben Wallace with less than a minute to go. The fight got worse when a fan threw a drink at Artest from the stands, leading to Artest charging into the crowd and trading blows with fans. Artest was initially suspended indefinitely, but that was reduced to 86 games, the longest suspension in NBA history, and it cost him about $5 million in lost salary.
Dennis Rodman Kicks a Referee, 1997
This former Detroit Pistons Bad Boy member, who won titles with a physical, almost thug-like playing style in Detroit, took bad to a whole new level as part of the Chicago Bulls' 1996-98 dynasty. One season earlier, Rodman was suspended six games for headbutting Ted Bernhardt after he fouled out of a game against the Orlando Magic. Believe it or not, his next act was even more controversial. In a January 1997 game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Rodman, who fell out of bounds trying to grab a rebound, got tangled up with cameraman Eugene Amos on the sidelines. In a bizarre fit, Rodman lashed out at the cameraman, kicking him. Amos was carted off on a stretcher. Rodman was suspended 11 games and lost a cool $1 million as a result.
Eric Cantona Kung-Fu Kicks A Fan, 1995
Soccer fans attending a Carling Premiership game between Manchester United and Crystal Palace on Jan. 25, 1995, were shocked when ManU legend Cantona unleashed a kick in the wayward direction of a heckler. It occurred shortly after Cantona was thrown out of the game for a dirty kick on Palace centerback Richard Shaw. The heckler, 20-year-old Matthew Simmons, began poking fun at Cantona, so Cantona jumped into the stands and kicked Simmons. Cantona was arrested for and convicted of assault and sentenced to two weeks in jail, which was overturned into a lengthy community service term. He was also fined £20,000 ($34,047) and suspended eight months from soccer worldwide, per a FIFA mandate.