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Suarez verdict due on Thursday

Luis Suarez joined Barcelona for £75 million © Getty Images

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The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) expects to announce a verdict on the appeal by Luis Suarez against his four-month ban from football on Thursday afternoon.

Barcelona's new signing attended a hearing at the court based in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Friday to appeal against the sanction, which includes a nine-match international suspension.

It was imposed by FIFA after he bit Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini while playing for Uruguay in the World Cup.

Last month, FIFA rejected Suarez's appeal against his lengthy ban, prompting him to take the issue to the CAS.

On Wednesday morning the court published a statement on its official website which read: "The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will announce its decision in the matter Luis Suarez, FC Barcelona & the Uruguayan FA on Thursday August 14, 2014 at around 3 pm [2pm UK time]. This case was heard on August 8, 2014 at the CAS offices in Lausanne.

"At the request of the Appellants and with the agreement of FIFA, the CAS has conducted an expedited arbitration procedure. As a consequence, the CAS Panel has accepted to render its decision within a short period of time but with grounds to follow later."

Suarez's legal team are hopeful of getting the punishment reduced, possibly by half, meaning he would be able to play for Barcelona before his ban is due to end on October 26 - the potential date of a clasico meeting with Real Madrid.

Despite the bite on Chiellini, Barcelona pushed ahead with their pursuit of the Uruguay striker, signing him from Liverpool for £75 million.

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