Terry Butcher: 'Luis Suarez ban should only apply to international matches'

Terry Butcher has said that any ban that Luis Suarez receives as a result of his alleged bite on Giorgio Chiellini should not apply to domestic matches.

The Italy defender has accused the striker of sinking his teeth into his shoulder during Uruguay's 1-0 win at the World Cup yesterday evening, resulting in FIFA launching disciplinary proceedings against the Liverpool forward.

The former England captain told Sky Sports News: "I think it should just be an international ban. It was on the international scene, he was playing for his country, it's nothing to do with Liverpool, or whatever club he does go to if that is the case. But I think it should be an international ban.

"They could punish him for 24 games, I think that's the maximum they could issue that ban, so it'll be very interesting to see what they do.

"Domestically, he had the ban before with Liverpool but he could still play internationally as well so I think if it's in that arena it should stay in that arena."

Suarez has had two bans previously for biting incidents.