The Uruguayan striker’s four-month playing ban remains in place, although he will now be allowed to return to training.
Luis Suarez has had his appeal against the four-month ban placed upon him by Fifa rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but will be allowed to train with Barcelona.
Suarez was originally banned by Fifa from all football-related activity after biting Giorgio Chiellini during Uruguay’s 1-0 win over Italy in a World Cup fixture in Natal in June.
The suspension meant that, although he completed his move to Camp Nou from Liverpool in July, he could not attend matches, practise with his colleagues or be presented to the media.
But CAS has made the decision that the Uruguayan should be allowed to return to work, albeit with his playing suspension remaining in place.
A CAS statment explained: “The CAS Panel found that the sanctions imposed on the player were generally proportionate to the offence committed.
It has however considered that the stadium ban and the ban from ‘any football-related activity’ were excessive given that such measures are not appropriate to sanction the offence committed by the player and would still have an impact on his activity after the end of the suspension.”
The 27-year-old can now train with his new Barcelona team-mates for the first time since his €88 million transfer from Liverpool, while he can also commit to promotional activity.
He is due to return to the playing field on October 26, one day after Barcelona are scheduled to play rivals Real Madrid in La Liga. However, Suarez could well feature in the Clasico as national TV could decide to change it to a Sunday fixture.
Barca released a statement via their official website which confirmed the news and announced that he will be presented to the public on Monday.
“Following the announcement of the verdict by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) regarding the appeal against the sanction imposed on Luis Suarez by Fifa, FC Barcelona hereby announce that the player will join the first team’s training session scheduled for tomorrow Friday at 09.30CET in the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper,” the statement read.
“Likewise, the public presentation of Suarez as a new FC Barcelona player will be held on Monday at Camp Nou, on occasion of the Joan Gamper Trophy match.”