CAS upholds Suarez's four-month ban but allows him to train, play in friendly matches

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has upheld Uruguayan ace striker Luis Suarez's four-month ban from all football related activity for biting an opponent, but he can now train and play in friendly matches.

Suarez's new club Barcelona has confirmed that the striker would join the first team's training session, scheduled for Friday, and added that the public presentation of Suarez as a new Barcelona player will be held on Monday at the Camp Nou. However, it is not known if Suarez would play in Monday's game with Mexico's Club Leon.

A full explanation of the CAS ruling, which still prevents him from playing organised matches but now allows him to take part in all football-related activities, will be published at a later date, The BBC reported.

The Uruguayan would still have to serve the remaining eight games of his record nine-match ban in competitive international games, while his competitive Barcelona debut is likely to be at Real Madrid on 26 October in El Clasico. But Suarez will now be available for Uruguay's friendlies against Japan and South Korea in September and Saudi Arabia the following month.

Suarez's lawyers argued that world governing body FIFA's decision to suspend him from all football-related activity for biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini during Uruguay's 2014 World Cup group match in Brazil in June was too strong a punishment.

In addition to being allowed to train and play in friendlies, the former Liverpool player, who moved to Barcelona last month for 75 million pounds, can also attend matches and take part in promotional activities.

Suarez's legal team said that the appeal was a success, arguing FIFA had misapplied its own rules when considering the case and the sanction it imposed was disproportionate.