Liverpool striker's ban

              

   For instance, Jermain Defoe, who was accused of biting an opponent in 2006, escaped any further action because he was shown a yellow card at the time. Had that happened today, under exceptional circumstances", the Tottenham striker would be charged.What happens next will ultimately rest on Suarez - after all, it is his punishment. The fact that he believed the mandatory three-match suspension would suffice creates the impression that an appeal could be on the cards over the additional seven matches.So why is it 10 matches? Have Suarez's previous disciplinary problems counted against him? A lack of remorse from the Uruguayan when he disputed the FA's claim that a three-game suspension was clearly insufficient? This is his second biting offence in three years and such a shameless statement hardly shows a sign of contrition.Whatever the outcome, Suarez will miss the start of next season but if the 10-match ban remains in force then Liverpool will be without their star striker until the start of October.That is mere speculation and only after the written reasons are publicised will we be able to assess the full picture.It is an undoubted blow for the club to be without such a world-class talent, who is an integral part of Liverpool's plans, if they are to challenge for a a return to the top four. To miss the opening six fixtures would be a setback but last season Liverpool won five of the eight games during his enforced absence.But even if Suarez has not learned his lessons from 2010 - when the-then Ajax player received a seven-match ban for biting PSV Eindhoven's Otman Bakkal - then Liverpool, as a football club, have. Following Sunday night's swift and unreserved apology from managing director Ian Ayre, they have decided to keep their counsel until they are in receipt of the written reasons.