Lausanne, Switzerland – The Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld Luis Suarez's four-month ban for biting an opponent at the World Cup, but cleared him Thursday to train with Barcelona.
CAS said Fifa's sanctions against Suarez are “generally proportionate to the offence committed.”
Suarez cannot play for Barcelona until October 26, and he remains banned for Uruguay's next eight competitive matches.
Suarez has admitted to biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini's shoulder during Uruguay's 1-0 win at the World Cup.
“The sanctions imposed on the player by Fifa have been generally confirmed,” the court said in a statement.
The court described the ban imposed by Fifa on Suarez from taking part in any football activity as “excessive.”
“However, the 4-month suspension will apply to official matches only and no longer to other football-related activities (such as training, promotional activities and administrative matters),” the court said.
Banning Suarez from training would have meant the ban “would still have an impact on his activity after the end of the suspension,” the panel ruled.
Suarez, who left Liverpool for Barcelona after the World Cup, appeared at the court's fast-track hearing last Friday in an effort to reduce his ban.
Fifa had also fined him 100 000 Swiss francs ($112,000).
CAS will publish its reasons for the verdict in the coming weeks. – Sapa-AP