The Football Association has charged Liverpool forward Luis Suarez with violent conduct for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic.
The incident occurred in the 74th minute of Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Anfield, in which Suarez went on to score a 96th-minute equaliser.
Suarez could face an extended ban after the FA claimed the standard three-match ban for violent conduct was “clearly insufficient”. Suarez has until 6pm on Tuesday to respond to the charge.
Liverpool have pledged not to sell the Uruguay international after his latest transgression, despite many commentators suggesting they should offload a player who had brought more than his fair share of controversy.
The 26-year-old has been fined with the player requesting the money goes to the Hillsborough Family Support Group but that will be the extent of the club’s discipline.
Suarez, however, has been told that there cannot be any repeat offences and that he must change his behaviour on the pitch.
Managing director Ian Ayre, who has liaised with owners Fenway Sports Group over the last 24 hours, said: “Luis is a very important player.
“He signed a new four-year contract last summer and we’d all love to see him here throughout that contract. He’s a fantastic player, top scorer and everything we’d want in a striker, so there’s no change there.
“This is more about getting him back on the right track and it’s largely down to Brendan (Rodgers) now to work with him on that side of his character, Brendan will be working with him further on his discipline.”
The fact remains a number of Europe’s top clubs would leap at the chance to sign Suarez, whose performances in the first half of the season kept the team afloat.
Ever since he signed a new contract last summer, Liverpool have insisted they have no intention of selling their prize asset and despite the unsavoury nature of this latest incident their stance has not changed.
Suarez will be offered anger management counselling by the Professional Footballers’ Association but it seems more likely Liverpool would be inclined to chose to utilise the services of their own in-house sports psychologist Dr Steve Peters.
In a phone call on Sunday night Suarez apologised to Ivanovic and Merseyside Police have confirmed no action will be taken against him after officers from the Surrey force, on behalf of their north-west colleagues, spoke to the Chelsea defender.
The Serbia international did not report any physical injury and told police he did not want to pursue the matter.
Controversy has dogged Suarez throughout his career, not just at Liverpool where he arrived in January 2011 from Ajax having served a seven-match ban for biting PSV Eindhoven midfielder Otman Bakkal.
Last year he was banned for eight games after being found guilty of racially abusing Manchester United’s Patrice Evra.