Luis Suarez lawyer cries conspiracy as FIFA probe bite claim

Luis Suarez's lawyer believes there is a European vendetta against the Uruguay striker after he was embroiled in a new biting storm.

FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Suarez after he appeared to bite Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini during Uruguay's 1-0 World Cup win on Tuesday.

Suarez, who has twice previously been banned for biting, played down the alleged incident as "a situation that happens on the pitch".

But his legal representative, Alejandro Balbi - also a Uruguay FA board member - went further in attempting to absolve the forward of blame and suggested a conspiracy was at play.

"We don't have any doubts that this has happened because it's Suarez and secondly because Italy was eliminated," Balbi said.

"There's a lot of pressure from England and Italy. We're polishing off a defence argument."

FIFA has refused to speculate about potential punishments for the Liverpool striker, though he could face a lengthy suspension just a year after serving a 10-match ban for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic in the Premier League in 2013 .

"There is a possibility that they ban him, because there are precedents, but we're convinced that it was an absolutely casual play, because if Chiellini can show a scratch on one shoulder, Suarez can show a bruised and almost shut eye," Balbi added.

"If every player starts showing the injuries he suffers and they open inquiries for them, everything will be way too complicated in the future. We're going to use all the arguments possible so that Luis gets out in the best possible way.

"You shouldn't forget that we're rivals of many and we can be for the organiser (hosts Brazil) in the future. This does not go against what might have happened, but there's no doubt that Suarez is a rock in the shoe for many."