/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/11951029/154607303.0.jpg)
From the FA:
The FA has charged Liverpool forward Luis Suarez with violent conduct. The charge follows an incident with Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic in yesterday's fixture at Anfield [21 April 2013].
The incident was not seen by the match officials and has therefore been retrospectively reviewed. It is alleged that the conduct of Suarez constitutes violent conduct and it is The FA's contention that the standard punishment of three matches that would otherwise apply is clearly insufficient in these circumstances.
Suarez has until 6pm on Tuesday 23 April to respond to the charge, thereafter an Independent Regulatory Commission will be convened this Wednesday, 24 April.
It seemed only a formality, really--I suppose there was always the chance that Kevin Friend saw the incident and thus Suarez wouldn't have been eligible for a further ban, but in this case it wasn't so, and Suarez will face a ban that will likely see out the rest of the season and possibly into the start of the next campaign.
Both Liverpool and Luis Suarez should accept any punishment without comment or conflict, barring some sort of astronomically ridiculous number of matches. They've shown contrition, which is nice, but now they need to receive the FA's ruling gracefully and without incident. What Suarez did was wrong and cannot be defended, and he should absolutely be punished for it, and hopefully both he and the club can push on from here and put Ian Ayre's words into action regarding the need to address whatever sort of numma-numma influences Suarez to act this way.
We're working our way through the player's second chance with the club, and given statements earlier in the day, it looks as though he's going to be extended a third. Some think that's ludicrous, some think that's only fair, and some--much like myself--have absolutely no idea what to think. What I do feel fairly safe in saying, though, is that there won't be any chances for him at Liverpool beyond this one.
The punishment probably won't be a jail sentence or deportation or a lifetime ban from football and/or breathing, much to the chagrin of some, but it will be significant and, in a relatively rare instance, the right decision from the FA.