COURT OF ARBITRATION FOR SPORT TO DECIDE ON SUAREZ'S APPEAL AGAINST BAN ON THURSDAY

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is to announce its decision on Luis Suarez's appeal against his four-month football ban at 2pm Nigerian time on Thursday.

CAS to rule on Luis Suarez appeal against ban on Thursday

The 27-year-old Uruguay striker was punished by Fifa for biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini during his country's 1-0 group-stage victory over Italy at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

The former Liverpool star was banned from "all football-related activity".

Suarez’s lawyers have argued that, as the incident took place while the former Liverpool star was playing for his country, he should be allowed to train with his new side during his suspension and the ban should be limited to international football only.

A CAS statement read: "At the request of the appellants and with the agreement of FIFA, the CAS has conducted an expedited arbitration procedure. As a consequence, the CAS Panel has accepted to render its decision within a short period of time but with grounds to follow later."

Barcelona paid Liverpool £75m for Suarez after he received his FIFA ban, which, as it stands, keeps him out until October 25.

It is understood that Suarez's legal team are confident of obtaining a reduction to two months and for their client to be allowed to train with Barcelona for the duration of his suspension.

If successful, he would be available to return to action on August 25.

Suarez's appeal was heard by CAS - an international sport tribunal which aims to settle disputes - in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Friday.

The ban handed down from world governing body Fifa was the largest in World Cup history.

Luis Suarez apologised afterwards, despite initially claiming to have lost his balance.

He has previously been suspended for biting PSV Eindhoven midfielder Otman Bakkal and Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic.

Having scored 31 goals in 33 Premier League appearances for Liverpool last season, Suarez was voted player of the year by both the Professional Footballers' Association and the Football Writers' Association.