LAUSANNE:  Barcelona striker Luis Suarez’s appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against a four-month ban for biting will be heard on August 8.

The Uruguay forward was punished after biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup finals in Brazil. An initial appeal against the 27-year-old’s ban was rejected by world federation FIFA.

The appeal has been filed by Suarez, Uruguay and Barcelona, the Spanish club he joined last month for £75m from Liverpool.

CAS has agreed to fast-track the case, and it is thought a verdict could be announced by the end of the week after the hearing.

Barcelona’s first match of the new Liga season is on August 24 and if the ban is upheld, Suarez will be out until late October.

Under the terms of the suspension, he is banned from “any football-related activity”, which means he cannot train with his club or enter the confines of any stadium.

Suarez is also banned from playing for Uruguay for nine matches and was fined 100,000 Swiss francs (£66,000).

Barcelona and the player hope that, at the least, he will be allowed to train with the club pending the conclusion of his suspension.

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