Betting website 888poker has dropped Luis Suarez as its ambassador following his shameful bite on Italy's Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup.
The Uruguay and Liverpool striker was on Thursday banned for nine international games and from all football for four months after being found guilty of biting for the third time. A statement on 888poker.com on Friday morning read:
"888poker signed Luis Suarez following a fantastic season for which his achievements were widely recognised. Regrettably, following his actions during Uruguay's World Cup match against Italy on Tuesday, 888poker has decided to terminate its relationship with Luis Suarez with immediate effect."
Suarez joined the online gambling company as a worldwide ambassador shortly before the World Cup and produced several video diaries for the website during the tournament, including after his two goals earned Uruguay victory over England. There were also plans for him to join in with several of the company's events but the incident against Italy prompted a statement saying 888poker would "seriously review" the link-up and "will not tolerate any unsporting behaviour".
Suarez's boot deal with adidas could also be in jeopardy after the sportswear manufacturer announced on Thursday that it too would consider its partnership with the 27-year-old. Suarez was last year banned for 10 games in domestic competition after biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic while playing for Liverpool, and in 2010 when with Ajax he bit PSV Eindhoven's Otman Bakkal and was suspended for seven games.
Following the Ivanovic incident, adidas stated "We will be reminding him of the standards we expect from our players", and it came down in support of football's governing body after the latest controversy. A statement on Thursday read:
"adidas fully supports FIFA's decision, adidas certainly does not condone Luis Suarez's recent behaviour and we will again be reminding him of the high standards we expect from our players. We have no plan to use Suarez for any additional marketing activities during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. We will discuss all aspects of our future partnership directly with Suarez and his team following the World Cup."
Fans have mocked Suarez in the days since the Italy game by posing next to adidas billboards showing his snarling face and pretending to be bitten by him. In addition to his latest lengthy ban, Suarez was also fined 100,000 Swiss francs (just under £66,000).
Source: The Telegraph
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