• Premier League

Ivanovic ends silence on Suarez bite

ESPN staff
May 1, 2013
Suarez has accepted his punishment

Branislav Ivanovic has broken his silence after he was infamously bitten by Liverpool forward Luis Suarez in last month's clash at Anfield, confirming he has accepted the apology offered by the Uruguayan.

Suarez was banned for ten games by the Football Association for his act, while there had initially been some confusion over whether or not the Chelsea defender had accepted the Uruguayan's apology.

However, Ivanovic has now confirmed he has accepted Suarez's messages of regret.

"I was surprised and angry at the time, but after the game my passions were calm and was all forgotten. I accepted his apology," Ivanovic told Serbian newspaper Vecernje Novosti. "I didn't attack him for what he done but I also didn't defend him.

"It was a really strange situation. Overnight I was everywhere because of what happened even though I was only a minor character. For the first time in the news everything was about Ivanovic."

The Chelsea defender believes the ban handed to Suarez was due to his indifferent disciplinary record, and hinted his attacker could have few complaints about the punishment.

"They took into account his past excesses and previous punishments," added Ivanovic. "They added everything up and reached seven games, plus the three he would have had for being sent off."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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