Ajax captain Luis Suarez gets seven-game ban for biting

Suarez sent off for handling on the line

Ajax captain Luis Suarez has accepted a seven-match ban for biting PSV Eindhoven midfielder Otman Bakkal's shoulder in Saturday's 0-0 league draw.

His club, who have unilaterally fined and banned the Uruguayan for two games, will not appeal against the punishment.

Suarez will be sidelined domestically until 4 February next year, but remains eligible for European competition.

The striker's three goals in the 2010 World Cup were overshadowed by his red card in the quarter-final with Ghana.

The 23-year-old's deliberate handball on the line in the dying seconds of the game in Johannesburg - which earned him his dismissal - prevented a certain goal and Asamoah Gyan missed the resulting penalty.

Uruguay subsequently went through on penalties before being beaten in the semi-final by the Netherlands - a game Suarez missed through suspension.

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Saturday's incident against PSV happened in stoppage time after referee Bjorn Kuipers showed Ajax's Rasmus Lindgren a straight red for a rough tackle on playmaker Ibrahim Afellay.

Suarez argued with Bakkal, who stood on the Uruguayan's foot, prompting him to bite the PSV midfielder's shoulder, although the incident was missed by the referee.

In reaching their decision over the severity of Suarez's punishment, the Dutch Football Federation said they had taken the player's previous conduct into account.

The forward, who has scored seven goals this season, still had a suspended one-match ban hanging over him following a red card in the season-opening Johan Cruyff Bowl match in July.

Although he will miss Ajax's next six Eredivisie fixtures, and the Dutch Cup tie with AZ, Suarez will be eligible to play in the Champions League group match against AC Milan on 8 December.

Ajax's 4-0 home defeat by Real Madrid on Tuesday ended their hopes of reaching the knockout stage but they can finish third in Group G to clinch a consolation place in the Europa League.