RIO DE JANEIRO — Luis Suarez could become just as awkward for soccer’s international organizers to handle as he has been for rival teams at the World Cup.
The Uruguay forward should find out by late Thursday what punishment he will serve for allegedly biting into the left shoulder of Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini in a crucial group-stage game.
‘‘We have to resolve it either today or tomorrow,’’ FIFA disciplinary panel member Martin Hong told reporters Wednesday. ‘‘It’s our duty to see justice done. We have it deal with it before the next game,.
Uruguay plays Saturday against Colombia in the Round of 16 at Maracana Stadium.
Suarez has hit a raw nerve at a tournament characterized by a high quality of soccer and entertainment.
The consequences of his bite — just before Uruguay scored the clinching goal to eliminate the four-time champion Italians — will now test FIFA president Sepp Blatter’s often-stated commitment to ‘‘fair play, discipline, respect.’’
Blatter, who was in the crowd for the Uruguay-Italy match at Natal, has previously pledged a zero tolerance for the darker side of the game.
Many are questioning where that leaves a player like Suarez, who has a history of disciplinary problems including separate bans of seven and 10 matches for biting opponents in the Netherlands and England.
The star Liverpool striker also faces losing income and reputation, with one sponsor reconsidering its recent deal with him.
In the early hours of Wednesday, FIFA announced it had opened a disciplinary case against Suarez.
The case will now be managed by Swiss lawyer Claudio Sulser, chairman of the FIFA disciplinary committee. A former international forward himself, Sulser has worked for four years at FIFA, first as head of its ethics court and now the disciplinary committee.
Sulser can choose to judge the obvious offense within the scale of typical red-card incidents: A three-match ban may then be appropriate, banishing Suarez at least until the World Cup final should Uruguay advance through the knockout rounds.
There’s scope for a more severe sanction: under the guidelines a ban of up to 24 international matches could be applied.
FIFA can also choose to ban Suarez for a period of time, to a maximum of two years, likely covering all soccer and not just playing for Uruguay. That could affect a widely speculated transfer to Barcelona or Real Madrid.
Suarez and the Uruguay football federation had until 4 p.m. to present a documented case for the defense, though he is unlikely to be called to Rio de Janeiro to meet with Sulser’s panel.
Uruguay federation board member Alejandro Balbi, who is Suarez’s lawyer, defended the player on Wednesday.
‘‘This happened because there have been campaigns launched by the media in England and Italy,’’ Balbi told Uruguayan radio Sport 890 from Brazil.
FIFA stated it would call on video evidence, which surely will have pleased Blatter, a proponent of using video evidence in cases on-field officials missed.
‘‘Video evidence can be used for serious breaches of the principle of fair play such as brawling, spitting at opponents, verbal insults and racist slurs, or for incorrectly awarded red or yellow cards,’’ he wrote in February.
Images of Chiellini pulling aside the sleeve of his Azzurri shirt on the field to show the referee the marks on his shoulder were broadcast around the world. FIFA also has access to footage from other angles and other parts of the field.
Completing the case ahead of Saturday’s match could be complicated if Suarez appeals any ban. That challenge could go direct to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland for an urgent and binding ruling.
However, one option open to FIFA and Sulser to avoid that scenario is that a suspension of ‘‘fewer than three matches or of up to two months’’ cannot be appealed, according to FIFA rules.
Already, one of Suarez’s sponsors said it was ‘‘reviewing our relationship with him.’’
‘‘We will not tolerate unsporting behavior,’’ 888poker said in a Twitter message.
Last month, the firm announced a global endorsement contract with Suarez, a poker enthusiast, after he was voted the Premier League’s best player by his peers and soccer writers.
Adidas, which also has Suarez as a client and is FIFA’s longest standing World Cup sponsor, said it was monitoring the case.
Meanwhile, Suarez was criticized by a Uruguay football great Alcides Ghiggia, the last survivor of the team that defeated Brazil to win the 1950 World Cup.
Suarez ‘‘plays well but he has done things that are not normal for a player nor for a soccer game,’’ Ghiggia told The AP. ‘‘I think FIFA can sanction him.’’
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ITU, Brazil (AP) — Alberto Zaccheroni quit as Japan coach in the wake of the Asian champion’s disappointing group-stage exit at the World Cup, saying the team needed a fresh influence.
Zaccheroni, who was appointed in 2010 on a four-year contract, announced the decision on Wednesday after earlier saying he'd wait until he returned to Japan to consider his future with the team.
Japan placed last in Group C with one point — from a 0-0 draw with 10-man Greece. The Japanese lost 2-1 after leading against the Ivory Coast in the group opener and then was routed 4-1 in its last game against Colombia on Tuesday.
Zaccheroni said he thought Japan was ‘‘superior in everything’’ against Colombia, but was still soundly beaten.
‘‘This means there’s something missing,’’ he said. ‘‘Therefore, this morning I have told the federation and the players that the moment has come for me to step away from the Japanese national team.
‘‘I think it’s fair if someone new comes, a new person, a new coach, to find for the team whatever it is missing.’’
Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima said Zaccheroni made an important contribution to Japan’s football development, even if the exit in Brazil was at an earlier stage than it was in 2010 in South Africa. Japan beat Cameroon and Denmark in the group stage in 2010 before losing in the second round on penalties to Paraguay.
'We, all players, are very disappointed that we couldn’t show ourselves the way he wanted us to play,’’ Kawashima said. ‘‘He contributed so much these four years. It’s a pity that we couldn’t get good results in the end. But these four years have been a big step for us with him.’’
Zaccheroni said he'd been aiming to get Japan into the second round, ‘‘But I picked the team, decided on the tactics and how we play and I want to take full responsibility.’’
‘‘I told the players and staff that I was happy and proud to be their coach. Over the last four years I have put my heart and soul into helping this team grow.’’
Zaccheroni said the Japanese players had the speed and skill to compete at the highest international level, but needed to be more physical.
‘‘I have tried to create a team with speed and intensity and don’t think the direction I tried to take the team was the wrong one,’’ he was quoted as saying by the Kyodo news agency. ‘‘I think the team should continue on the same path it has been on for the last four years.’’
Japan won the Asian Cup for a fourth time in 2011 and will travel to Australia as defending continental champion for the 2015 tournament.
Star midfielder Keisuke Honda said it was important for Japan to start looking forward quickly.
‘‘I was disappointed yesterday, but this is real,’’ he said. ‘‘I have to accept these results. Of course if we had played better we would have different results, but it’s too late, and we have to think from now.
‘‘Hopefully I want to try next World Cup’’.
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SALVADOR, Brazil (AP) — Carlos Queiroz said Wednesday he is quitting as Iran coach after his team’s group-stage exit at the World Cup.
Bosnia-Herzegovina ended Iran’s hopes of advancing to the knockout rounds with a 3-1 victory in Group F on Wednesday.
Queiroz announced his decision to quit shortly after the defeat, saying he was leaving because he failed to agree financial terms with Iranian football authorities.
‘‘I showed my commitment and credibility, but I did not see any commitment to extend the contract,’’ Queiroz said.
The 61-year-old Portuguese manager and former goalkeeper took over in 2011 and led the team through qualifying.
‘‘I fell in love with Iran, but you can’t have a marriage in which only one side wants to marry,’’ he said.
Among other teams, Queiroz has coached Portugal, Real Madrid, MetroStars and was Alex Ferguson’s assistant manager at Manchester United.
At the World Cup, Queiroz has been criticized for Iran’s defensive tactics, although it nearly caused a major upset against Argentina before conceding a late spectacular winner by Lionel Messi.
He defended his tactics by saying he lacked experienced players who could play more offensively. ‘‘I have Iranian fans and players in my heart,’’ Queiroz said. ‘‘It was wonderful for me to work for Iran.
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BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — Paulo Bento intends to stay on as Portugal coach even if the team fails to qualify from its World Cup group, saying Wednesday his tenure will be judged on results at the 2016 European Championship.
Portugal, the world’s No.4-ranked team, has just one point from its first two Group G games and is unlikely to reach the knockout stage even if it beats Ghana in Brasilia on Thursday.
‘‘In April there was an agreement with the association that wasn’t about the results at the World Cup but our objectives for 2016,’’ Bento said through a translator. ‘‘I'm not going to resign from my job as coach, it’s not my intention or the intention of the federation.’’
Under Bento, Portugal reached the semifinals of Euro 2012 — losing to Spain on penalties — but struggled in qualification for the World Cup and only came through a playoff against Sweden thanks to the goals of Cristiano Ronaldo, the world player of the year.
In Brazil, the Portuguese have lost 4-0 to Germany and drawn 2-2 with the United States, with Silvestre Varela’s injury-time goal keeping them in with a slim chance of progression.
Germany and the United States, which meet in Recife in the group’s other game Thursday, are three points clear of Portugal and have a far superior goal difference. A draw will result in both of those teams advancing.
‘‘I'm not afraid (that) in the other game, there’s an agreement for a draw,’’ Bento said. ‘‘In football you have to have respect and dignity, be confident and nothing else. We have a match, United States and Germany have a match, too.
‘‘We can just play our match and that’s what we'll try and do.’’
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MANAUS, Brazil (AP) — Honduras coach Luis Fernando Suarez has quit his job following his team’s 3-0 loss to Switzerland at the World Cup.
Wednesday’s result left Honduras winless in its three matches and eliminated from the tournament.
Suarez says his contract ended when the team was knocked out of the World Cup, and he has decided against trying to stay on in the post.
Suarez says ‘‘it’s not a resignation. It’s not an issue with the contract. ... I unilaterally take the decision of not continuing.’’
Honduras played in Group E in Brazil but lost to Switzerland, Ecuador and France, finishing last.
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BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — As much as $3 million in cash sent by Ghana’s president was expected to arrive in Brazil on a plane Wednesday in a bid to appease members of the country’s World Cup squad who are unhappy at being denied bonus payments.
President John Dramani Mahama has been forced to personally intervene in the latest bonus row to hit African football, which has seriously disrupted Ghana’s preparations for its decisive Group G game against Portugal on Thursday.
Ghana midfielder Christian Atsu dismissed fears the team would boycott its final group game in Brasilia, which the Ghanaians need to win to stand any chance of reaching the second round.
‘‘We are not going to say we are not going to play because of the money,’’ Atsu said. ‘‘We love our nation and we are going to play for our nation.’’
Asked what the players will do with the appearance-fee cash — reportedly between $75,000 and $100,000 each — if they receive it as planned on Wednesday, Atsu said: ‘‘I think we will keep it in our bags and we'll just lock them. And we will transfer the money to our accounts.’’
Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah said he had been having ‘‘sleepless nights’’ over the issue which came to a head on Tuesday when the players and team management had a meeting instead of conducting a training session. President Mahama ‘‘personally spoke to the players’’ to assure them they would receive the money, the Ghana Football Association said in a statement.
‘‘Every player ... knows it is his right,’’ Appiah said.
‘‘The management and the government are trying to sort it out and everything will be sorted out in two or three hours’ time,’’ he added. ‘‘They should have received it before the start of the competition but it’s being solved now and we are really focused on the game now.’’
Players aren’t being paid by electronic transfer because ‘‘the practice in Ghana has always been paying the money in cash,’’ Appiah said.
Appiah wouldn’t give an exact figure for the appearance fees owed to the players, saying: ‘‘I would be a bad person ... the players would kill me if I said.’’
Ghana’s deputy sports minister Joseph Yammin said that around $3 million would be flown over, but it wasn’t clear how Ghana would be able to bring the money into Brazil without paying tax on it.
Brazilian officials said bringing in such an amount and not declaring it to authorities would be illegal and that the entire amount could be confiscated. Individuals cannot bring in more than $4,500 each without having it subject to taxes, said Brazil’s Federal Police, who enforce custom and immigration laws.
The nation’s federal tax agency also said it knew of no exemptions for any individuals or entities, including Ghana’s World Cup team. The agency didn’t indicate in the emailed statement what sort of taxes could be levied on money over that limit.
Like other African countries playing at the World Cup, Ghana’s government is financing the player bonuses. The money will later be reimbursed by some of the prize money — of at least $8 million — that FIFA guarantees each country, even if it is knocked out in the group stage. That won’t be paid to Ghana until after the tournament, the GFA said. FIFA also gives each of the 32 teams competing $1.5 million beforehand to help with preparation costs.
Before the tournament, Cameroon’s squad refused to board a plane to Brazil until their demands for improved bonuses were met. There have also been rumblings of discontent over pay in the Nigeria and Ivory Coast camps.
Ghana was Africa’s only team to qualify for the second round at the last World Cup and reached the quarterfinals. On Thursday, Ghana must beat Portugal and hope Germany beats the United States heavily in the other group game to advance.
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PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil (AP) — A few scuffles broke out among World Cup fans Wednesday in this southern Brazilian city that saw an estimated 80,000 Argentina soccer fans arrive to watch their national team take on Nigeria, but overall the scene was calmer than authorities feared.
There were concerns that some of Argentina’s infamous hooligan gangs might cause trouble in the city, and police responded by heavily patrolling in riot gear in the area around the stadium.
On Saturday, Argentina fans got into a melee with Brazilian fans, tossing beer bottles at each other, and there were fears worse would happen Wednesday in Porto Alegre, which is about 700 kilometers (430 miles) from the Argentine border.
But apart from a few isolated incidents, there was little violence as the match pitting Argentina against Nigeria began.
Yinich Alcand, a Nigerian fan among thousands hanging out about 2 kilometers (a mile) from the stadium, said that the atmosphere was ‘‘electrifying, but the problem is there’s a shortage of tickets.’’
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