FIFA have announced that they will investigate Giorgio Chiellini's claims that he was bitten by Luis Suarez in Italy's defeat to Uruguay this evening.
With his side heading out of the World Cup at the time, Suarez appeared to sink his teeth into Chiellini's shoulder in the final 10 minutes of the South Americans' win.
"We are awaiting the official match reports and will gather all the necessary elements in order to evaluate the matter," a spokesman for the governing body said.
If found guilty of the offence, it is believed that FIFA's disciplinary code states that the Liverpool striker - who has previously been sanctioned for two similar incidents - could face a two-year international ban.
In 2013, Suarez was issued a 10-game ban for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic, three years after he was banned for seven matches for the same offence while playing for Ajax.
Shortly after the incident, Diego Godin headed the game's solitary goal which took Oscar Tabarez's side into the second round of the tournament.
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