Liverpool striker "Luis Suarez" who bites Chelsea defender "Row" during match Apologize

Striker says sorry for sinking teeth into Ivanovic

LUIS SUAREZ has apologised after BITING Branislav Ivanovic.

The Liverpool striker was involved in a tussle with the Serbian defender in the second half of the Reds' 2-2 draw with Chelsea.

Suarez grabbed hold of the defender's arm and sank his teeth into him — the second time in his career he has been caught taking a chunk out of an opponent.

The FA are set to investigate the incident tomorrow despite the Uruguayan posting an apology on Twitter and Liverpool releasing a statement condemning their star player.

In a club statement, he added: “I have issued an apology and have tried to contact Branislav Ivanovic to speak to him personally.

“I apologise also to my manager, playing colleagues and everyone at Liverpool Football Club for letting them down.”

Managing director Ian Ayre said: “Luis has made an unreserved apology for his actions today.

“His behaviour is not befitting of any player wearing a Liverpool shirt and Luis is aware that he has let himself and everyone associated with the club down.

“We will deal with the matter internally and await any action from the FA.”

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers refused to comment on the incident in his post-match interviews until he had seen television footage.

But the Northern Irishman later said: “Having reviewed the video footage and spoken to Luis, his behaviour is unacceptable and I have made him aware of this.”

Suarez had earlier gifted Chelsea a penalty when he handled in the area — allowing Eden Hazard to net from the spot to make it 2-1.

The Uruguayan made amends in the SEVENTH minute of injury time when he equalised with a header from a Daniel Sturridge cross.

But Suarez should not have been on the pitch after his clash with Ivanovic.

Liverpool legend and Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness said: “I’m not sure what to make of it really, embarrassing.

“A football club’s board of directors’ job is to attract and get the best football players and keep them at the football club.

“He is making it very difficult for himself to stay at Liverpool, I believe that puts him in the last chance saloon.”

Suarez is the Premier League's top scorer with 22 goals and has been nominated for this year's PFA Player of the Year.

But his controversial antics continue to overshadow his performances on the pitch.

In 2010 — while playing for Ajax — he received a seven-match ban for biting PSV Eindhoven midfielder Otman Bakkal.

And last season he was found guilty by the FA of racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra.

It is also not the first time a Premier League player has bitten an opponent, with Jermain Defoe having nibbled on West Ham midfielder Javier Mascherano in October 2006.

The Tottenham forward bit the Argentine on the shoulder but was booked by referee Steve Bennett, preventing the FA from taking retrospective action.

Souness added: “If you look at Suarez’s track record in the past, his incident with Patrice Evra, this is not the first time he has bitten someone in a football match. It can’t happen again.

“I firmly believe this puts him in the last chance saloon as a Liverpool player — the board have to see it that way because they’re risking everything this great football club stands for.

Liverpool are not blessed with world-class footballers at this time, and he is genuinely a world-class player, but he’s making it very difficult for them to hold on to him.

“I’ve never seen anything like that in a football match before. That’s what children do when they are in the pram, they bite things if they are not happy with it.

“He must be on the borderline of doing something mad, crazy every time he goes out there if he is capable of that.”

Former Reds midfielder and fellow pundit Jamie Redknapp said: “He got a seven-game ban at Ajax for doing the same thing. He obviously has a real problem.

There is that madness-genius gene in him because as a player, you hold your hands up — he’s exceptional with people talking about him being player of the year, but what he did today, is indefensible.

“Even the staunchest Liverpool supporters cannot look at that and think that’s alright.

“You can’t defend that and anyone who tries to is completely wrong, because the club is bigger than any player who has been on the football field.

“What’s he doing? Why on earth would you want to take a chunk out of someone’s arm when you are on a football field?

“That is an absolutely incredible act of brutality. It’s madness.” 

Thesun Uk