Luis Suárez Bites Giorgio Chiellini During Uruguay Win V Italy

Uruguay's Luis Suarez was involved in another World Cup controversy as he appeared to bite Italy's Giorgio Chiellini during their Group D clash.

Suarez pushed his head towards Chiellini in the penalty area just before Diego Godin's Uruguay winner.

Chiellini pulled his shirt down to show the referee an apparent mark on his shoulder made during the clash.

"It was ridiculous not to send Suarez off. It is clear, clear-cut," Chiellini told Italian television station Rai TV.

"Then there was the obvious dive afterwards because he knew very well that he did something that he shouldn't have done."

After the clash between the players, Suarez, 27, went to ground holding his mouth, apparently suggesting he had been elbowed.

As the Italian ran after referee Marco Rodriguez, Uruguay forward Gaston Ramirez attempted to get Juventus defender Chiellini, 29, to cover his shoulder.

Suarez has twice been banned for biting and, at the 2010 World Cup, committed a handball on the line to stop Ghana from scoring.

Fifa will wait to receive the referee's report, with a spokeswoman telling BBC Sport: "We will gather all the necessary elements in order to evaluate the matter."

The disciplinary committee of world football's governing is responsible for "sanctioning serious infringements which have escaped the match officials' attention".

Any suspension could range from "up to three matches or up to two months".

Fifa vice-president Jim Boyce said: "There is no doubt Luis Suarez is a fantastic footballer but, once again, his actions have left him open to severe criticism.

"Fifa must investigate the incident seriously and take whatever disciplinary action is deemed necessary."

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez tried to play down the incident and believes there is a vendetta from certain media towards Suarez.

"I'd like to see the images first before making any comment. If it happened, then the referee probably didn't see it," said Tabarez.

"Despite mistakes Suarez has made, he is the target of certain media, a certain press."

Italy manager Cesare Prandelli said he was resigning after the defeat by Uruguay, which eliminated his side from the tournament in Brazil.

"I didn't see the images of Suarez but I did see the bite marks in Chiellini's shoulder," said Prandelli.