Suarez 'bite wasn't deliberate'

Rio de Janeiro - Luis Suarez claimed to FIFA's disciplinary panel that he did not deliberately bite Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini at the Soccer World Cup.

The Uruguay striker wrote in Spanish that "in no way it happened how you have described, as a bite or intent to bite."

Suarez said "after the impact ... I lost my balance, making my body unstable and falling on top of my opponent.

"At that moment I hit my face against the player leaving a small bruise on my cheek and a strong pain in my teeth," Suarez claimed.

The seven-man panel decided that the bite was "deliberate, intentional and without provocation".

Suarez was banned for nine Uruguay matches and four months from all football.