FIFA have rejected Luis Suarez's appeal against a four-month worldwide ban from football

FIFA have rejected Luis Suarez's appeal against a four-month worldwide ban from football.

Published: Fri, July 11, 2014

Luis Suarez looks set to leave Liverpool[GETTY]

And he is now facing a dilemma over an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) as to whether he should ask his sanction to be put on hold until the outcome of the case.

Suarez's appeal was lodged against the sanctions imposed after the Uruguay striker bit Italy's Giorgio Chiellini, which also included a nine-match international ban plus a £66,000 fine.

Suarez can make a further appeal to CAS and can also ask the court to suspend the ban pending a final decision. CAS may refuse to do so but, if agreed, it could mean Suarez could be available at the start of the domestic season.

The downside however is that CAS if puts the ban on hold, it means instead of Suarez being banned for a month of the close season when no clubs are playing, he would instead face being out for even longer when the season starts.

That issue will no doubt be a key part of discussion involving his current club Liverpool and Barcelona, his prospective buyers, who are now expected to announce Suarez's move to the Nou Camp in the coming days.

FIFA confirmed the punishment does not prevent transfers and the deal with Barcelona will now be a straight cash arrangement, worth between £70million and £80m, after Chile striker Alexis Sanchez opted for a move to Arsenal rather than Anfield.