Barcelona are said to be cautiously optimistic that Luis Suarez’s biting ban appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport will have a positive outcome.
The three-man panel’s decision will be known today after the Uruguay forward took his case to the court following FIFA’s rejection of his appeal against the four-month ban from all football and nine-game international ban for biting Giorgio Chiellini during the Italy vs. Uruguay World Cup fixture.
Suarez completed a move to Barca shortly after he was suspended but hasn’t been able to train with his new club or be officially presented by the Catalans. The former Liverpool striker isn’t even allowed to set foot inside a football ground under the terms of the ban.
AS say that Barca are approaching the verdict with ‘caution and optimism’ but are reluctant to say anything publically with the concern that a statement could produce a backlash from CAS.
Barca argued to CAS that Suarez’s punishment was disproportionate and hope to be allowed to present Suarez soon, and even include Suarez in the squad for the Joan Gamper Trophy next week.
Bernhard Welten, Marco Balmelli and Luigi Fumigalli are the three judges who will rule on Suarez’s appeal, with their decision to be announced at 2pm this afternoon UK time, 3pm in Spain.
As it stands, the first La Liga game for which Suarez would be available is the first Clasico of the season at the end of October, at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu.