Suarez is not alone: Five other biting cases in sports

Uruguay's Luis Suarez (right) reacts after clashing with Italy's Giorgio Chiellini during their 2014 World Cup Group D soccer match at the Dunas arena in Natal in this June 24, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Uruguay's Luis Suarez (right) reacts after clashing with Italy's Giorgio Chiellini during their 2014 World Cup Group D soccer match at the Dunas arena in Natal in this June 24, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

PARIS (AFP) - Disgraced Uruguay striker Luis Suarez is not alone in being punished for biting in the sporting arena. Here are five other painful cases:

1: Rugby League Anthony Watts reinforced his reputation as a bad boy of Australian Rugby League after being accused of biting an opponent's penis in a minor Gold Coast League game for the Tugun Seahawks against Bilambil Jets in 2013.

A Jets player pulled down his shorts after a ruckus to show the referee he had been bitten in a painful place. Watts denied the charge vehemently. "I was wearing a mouthguard and there's no way I bit him on the dick," he said. His protests of innocence fell on deaf ears and he received an eight match ban.

"After the judiciary panel reviewed footage as well as reports from medical staff and match officials, it found Watts guilty of contrary conduct," read the Gold Coast Rugby League judgement.

2: Boxing A 1997 heavyweight world title bout between holder Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson was billed as the 'Sound and the Fury'. Tyson, enraged at what he saw as deliberate headbutting by the taller Holyfield, worked his gumshield free during the third round and ended by biting off part of the top of Holyfield's ear and spat it out onto the canvas.

Referee Mills Lane did not stop the fight immediately but when it became clear that Tyson had repeated the offence he had no alternative but to call it off and award the fight to the Holyfield.

Tyson charged round the ring trying to get at Holyfield in his corner but the champion was led to safety. The Nevada boxing authorities fined Tyson $3 million and revoked his licence, although it was restored later. In 2009 on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Tyson apologised to Holyfield who accepted.

3: Rugby Union South Africa prop Yohann 'the Beast' Le Roux achieved his moment of infamy in a test against New Zealand in 1994 when he nibbled at legendary hooker Sean Fitzpatrick's ear. With blood pouring from his ear, Fitzpatrick complained to the match officials who said they had seen nothing.

TV evidence was unequivocal though and the 'Beast' was sent home by his team managers the night after the game. Fitzpatrick later revealed Le Roux had already bitten him on his arm before going for the ear. Le Roux later received an 18 month ban.

He thought he had been hard done by declaring: "For an 18 month suspension I feel I probably should have torn it off."

4: Australian Rules Football Peter Filandia was accused of biting the scrotum of rival player Chad Davis while competing for Port Melbourne against Springvale in Melbourne in 2002.

Filandia excused himself by saying he had not realised what part of Davis's body he was tucking into. "It was a split-second decision," he said. Australian Rules authorities ordered a 10 match ban.

5: Rugby Union London Scottish flanker Simon Fenn emerged from a ruck in a 1998 club game with Bath without the ball and also part of his ear. His injury required 25 stitches.

He had little idea who the perpetrator was, but suspicion fell on prop Kevin Yates and despite his denials Yates was suspended for six months. Match referee Ashley Rowden said: "I've never experienced anything like it." Yates tried to leave the incident behind him by moving to New Zealand to carry on his career.

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