Uruguay's 1-0 win against Italy on Tuesday, a victory that knocked the Italians out of the World Cup, was overshadowed by controversy. Luis Suarez appeared to bite Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini in the 79th minute of the match.
The incident created a firestorm on the interwebs. Here's some of the reaction:
Video, photos of the apparent bite
Chiellini apparently trying to show bite marks on his shoulder from Suarez. No action was taken from the referee #ITA pic.twitter.com/9GrZcBCsTf
- ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 24, 2014
Did Suarez just bite Chiellini? pic.twitter.com/EIHJHCZWXf
- ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 24, 2014
Our crew in Brazil broke down the incident:
Not the first time for Suarez
This seems to be an unfortunate pattern for Suarez:
April 21, 2013: He was suspended 10 games by England's FA for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic in a league game in 2012-13.
Nov. 20, 2010: While playing for Ajax, he received a seven-match ban for biting PSV Eindhoven's Otman Bakkal in a game. Suarez was not booked in the match.
"Reporters only come to Uruguay to find out why Suarez bites people..." @wrightthompson http://t.co/De0uLsLWMi #Uruguay
- ESPN_Reader (@ESPN_Reader) June 24, 2014
Issues RT @ArashMarkazi: This is Suarez's third biting incident. THIRD! pic.twitter.com/3ACFyqhTn0 pic.twitter.com/rmttHOpUxe pic.twitter.com/HCiH4PV4J6
- Kevin Negandhi (@KNegandhiESPN) June 24, 2014
And here is more on his past incidents:
And then Tuesday ... BOOM!
SUAREZ BITE. THIS WORLD CUP HAS EVERYTHING
- Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) June 24, 2014
OMG Saurez did it again. He bit him.
- George Dohrmann (@georgedohrmann) June 24, 2014
Oh boy. Oh boy oh boy oh boy. #URU
- Jonathan Tannenwald (@thegoalkeeper) June 24, 2014
This. Is. Not. Happening.
- Bryan Armen Graham (@BryanAGraham) June 24, 2014
Again?
- Gabriele Marcotti (@Marcotti) June 24, 2014
Tell me I'm seeing things. Surely Suarez didn't bite someone again?
- michael owen (@themichaelowen) June 24, 2014
After such a behavior #suarez only deserve to stay @LFC #worldcup2014 #cannibal #tysonfan #angermanagement
- Mikael Silvestre (@IamMSilvestre) June 24, 2014
Surely that wasn't a bite??? It can't have been...could it ?? #suarez
- Michael Carrick (@carras16) June 24, 2014
If Suarez is guilty, no ban us too long. Totally beyond the pale. Alien to football.
- Ian Darke (@IanDarke) June 24, 2014
Suarez is an absolute disgrace sorry. Biting players is gross and against everything about the game. Talent for sure but no thanks. #URU
- Taylor Twellman (@TaylorTwellman) June 24, 2014
@MenInBlazers Suárez realizes there are cameras filming these games, right ?
- Bruce Longacre II (@blongacre22) June 24, 2014
Fava beans with a nice chianti...
- Mark Zeigler (@sdutzeigler) June 24, 2014
The whole biting thing. I just don't get it. This is a conversation for a 3 year old, not a grown man repeatedly. #Suarez
- Julie Foudy (@JulieFoudy) June 24, 2014
Knowing what is at stake, knowing how many cameras, & yet he STILL BITES. #Suarez
- Julie Foudy (@JulieFoudy) June 24, 2014
So glad we don't have a biter in the women's game. #ouch
- Alex Morgan (@alexmorgan13) June 24, 2014
Can't they get Suarez one of these? pic.twitter.com/mcwUmM6sym
- Howler Magazine (@whatahowler) June 24, 2014
Hoping Suarez not given retroactive suspension for bite. Needs to play so he can do that handball on-the-line-save thing. Full repertoire
- roger bennett (@rogbennett) June 24, 2014
How's he going to blame the English media this time? We're all at another game.
- Daniel Taylor (@DTguardian) June 24, 2014
Giorgio Chiellini just joined an ELITE club. They might want to schedule drinks or something.
- James Tyler (@JamesTylerESPN) June 24, 2014
Thing abt biting is that can be tough for ref to spot. But Disciplinary Committee can (+ will) come down like ton of bricks.
- Gabriele Marcotti (@Marcotti) June 24, 2014
Still can't believe what I've seen again from Suarez...needs an ENORMOUS ban from football. THIRD time now!
- bradley h friedel (@friedel_b) June 24, 2014
How can Suarez be out ... in the daylight?!!!!
- George Johnson (@GeorgejohnsonCH) June 24, 2014
Try explaining Suarez to your curious 7-year-old. "Dad, wait. That guy BIT someone? And that's allowed?"
- Wayne Drehs (@espnWD) June 24, 2014
Oh, like you've never bitten three different people in front of millions of witnesses http://t.co/hLkVHDXDCA
- Bruce Arthur (@bruce_arthur) June 24, 2014
Before Suarez is roundly condemned, we should account for the relative tastiness of Italian players. Not like they were British.
- Dave Zirin (@EdgeofSports) June 24, 2014
Even Evander Holyfield weighed in, speak from experience after being on the receiving end of one of the most infamous biting incidents in sports history:
I guess any part of the body is up for eating.
- Evander Holyfield (@holyfield) June 24, 2014
Were people expecting this from Suarez? One betting site apparently put odds on it:
What are the odds!? http://t.co/TQhfrYLjq8
— Who Ate All The Pies (@waatpies) June 24, 2014
And, for the record, this man is not THE Luis Suarez:
NO SOY LUIS SUAREZ, HAY MUCHOS SUAREZ EN EL MUNDO, NO SOY LUIS SUAREZ POR FAVOR
- Diego Suarez (@Suarez) June 24, 2014
Translation: "I am not Luis Suarez, there are many Suarezes in this world. I am not Luis Suarez, please."
There was some initial player postmatch reaction:
Chiellini: "Suarez is allowed to do whatever he wants and FIFA allows it because they want the superstars to play."
- Francesco (@FRANCESCalciO) June 24, 2014
Chiellini just confirmed the bite to RAI. "It was clear-cut. It was ridiculous not to send him off"
- Simon Evans (@sgevans) June 24, 2014
Tabarez on Suarez: "It seems to me that there is animosity towards this football player." #ITAvsURU #WorldCup
- Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) June 24, 2014
And the memes keep on comin'
Regardless of which side fans fall on the incident, there are some creative folks out in Twitterland:
The harshest FIFA punishment of Suarez? pic.twitter.com/chNy1nLuXI
- Don Van Natta Jr. (@DVNJr) June 24, 2014
Suarez next match: pic.twitter.com/HolsshOT6x
- Sydney Leroux (@sydneyleroux) June 24, 2014
RT @redrobbery All the proof I need. pic.twitter.com/sFHkFOelY2
- Back Page Football (@bpfootball) June 24, 2014
I don't bite.....hawd... pic.twitter.com/4vQIygh3Cz
- John Buccigross (@Buccigross) June 24, 2014
Team Edward? Team Jacob? nah... TEAM SUAREZ. #SNPhotoGame pic.twitter.com/wuXcqJ7RC9
- SportsNation (@SportsNation) June 24, 2014
@SportsNation #SNPhotoGame He made it on the walking dead. pic.twitter.com/XU1u0OpMKq
- A Wes (@alecwes) June 24, 2014
And finally ...
Sometimes, it all comes back to "Slap Shot."
Watching @BobLeyESPN right now I find my mind drifting to this: http://t.co/p6Enxxm8Ni
- Alexi Lalas (@AlexiLalas) June 24, 2014