Senior FIFA officials expect at least a six-game ban for Luis Suárez for his bite on Giorgio Chiellini. Any sanction greater than three matches or two months leaves open the prospect of an appeal.

Claudio Sulser chairs FIFA's disciplinary committee, which will decide the fate of Suárez.

The Uruguayan FA claims that images of bite marks on Chiellini’s shoulder had been Photoshopped to make them appear worse than they were. “If every player starts showing the injuries he suffers and they open inquiries for them everything will be way too complicated in the future,” Balbi said. “We’re going to use all the arguments possible so that Luis gets out in the best possible way.

“You shouldn’t forget that we’re rivals of many and we can be for the hosts [Brazil] in the future. This does not go against what might have happened, but there’s no doubt that Suárez is a stone in the shoe for many.”