Uruguay striker Luis Suarez Thursday was banned for nine games and four months by world body FIFA for biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini during the team’s 1-0 win in their last World Cup group match in Natal on Tuesday.

The ban was imposed on Suarez with immediate effect and he will miss Uruguay’s pre-quarterfinal match with Colombia slated for Saturday.

Uruguay have three days to appeal against the decision.Suarez has also been fined 100,000 Swiss francs (£65,680).

The ban is the biggest in World Cup history, beating the eight games given to Italy’s Mauro Tassotti for elbowing Spain’s Luis Enrique in 1994.