Uruguay striker Luis Suarez has revealed that he did not intend to bite Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini and has insisted that he fell into the Juventus man.
The 27-year-old was handed a four-month ban from all football activity following the incident in Oscar Tabarez's side's 1-0 win over the Azzurri in their final Group D game.
However, Suarez is adamant that the melee was not intentional, claiming that he fell into Chiellini which caused pain in his cheek and teeth.
He wrote in a letter to FIFA, according to The AP: "In no way it happened how you have described, as a bite or intent to bite. After the impact ... I lost my balance, making my body unstable and falling on top of my opponent.
"At that moment I hit my face against the player leaving a small bruise on my cheek and a strong pain in my teeth."
Uruguay boss Tabarez resigned from his role on FIFA's technical committee as a result of Suarez's punishment.
