Rio de Janeiro, June 28: Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini, who was bitten by Luis Suarez of Uruguay, has sympathised with his attacker and has called the ban as "excessive".

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Suarez was handed a nine-match ban and four-month suspension from all football-related activity after he had bitten Chiellini on his left shoulder during their FIFA World Cup 2014 Group game on June 24 (Tuesday).

Reacting to the ban, Chiellini wrote on his website: "Now inside me there's no feelings of joy, revenge or anger against Suarez for an incident that happened on the pitch and that's done. There only remain the anger and the disappointment about the match. At the moment my only thought is for Luis and his family, because they will face a very difficult period."

"I have always considered unequivocal the disciplinary interventions by the competent bodies, but at the same time I believe that the proposed formula is excessive. I sincerely hope that he will be allowed, at least, to stay close to his team mates during the games because such a ban is really alienating for a player," he added.

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