Italy required just a point. Uruguay required the full three to escape Group D with Costa Rica. In the 79th minute, with the game scoreless, Luis Suarez made Giorgio Chiellini his third career bite victim after Otman Bakkal and Branislav Ivanovic. The Italy No.3 collapsed to the floor in pain. Uruguay’s No.9 scandalously fell to the floor, clutching his face, faking a collision.
When Chiellini returned to his feet, he yanked his shirt down – Gaston Ramirez was pulling his opponent’s jersey back up – to reveal the bite marks on his shoulder. But the referee waved play on. Less than a minute after the Italian players pleaded incredulously with the official, Uruguay won a corner from which Diego Godin headed home the game’s only goal.
FIFA slapped Suarez with the longest suspension they had ever handed out for a World Cup incident (nine internationals), but Italy were out of the competition.