Luis Suarez Finally Admitted He Did Bite Chiellini in Worldcup Match

Painful: Suarez fell to the ground and held his teeth straight after the encounter with centre back Chiellini

Luis Suarez faced further criticism on Monday night after issuing a belated apology for biting Giorgio Chiellini and promising never to be involved in such an incident again - just as Barcelona stepped up their bid to sign him.

Initially, Suarez insisted there was NO BITE -- despite strong video evidence -- saying he simply lost his balance and accidentally hit his face against Chiellini's shoulder. 

But now -- after FIFA banned him for 4 months -- it seems Suarez has finally come to his senses ... because he just issued the following statement on his Twitter page: "After several days of being home with my family, I have had the opportunity to regain my calm and reflect about the reality of what occurred during the Italy-Uruguay match on 24 June 2014. 

Four days after receiving a four-month ban from the game and telling FIFA that the clash during Uruguay’s World Cup match against Italy in Natal was an accident in which he ‘lost balance’, the Liverpool striker made a complete U-turn and admitted he deeply regretted his actions. But the apology has led to widespread cynicism in the week that the 27-year-old was linked with an £80million move to the Nou Camp.

Independant from the fallout and the contradicting declarations that have surfaced during these past days, all of which have been without the intention of interfering with the good performance of my national team, the truth is that my colleague Giorgio Chiellini suffered the physical result of a bite in the collision he suffered with me. For this:

- I deeply regret what occurred
- I apologize to Giorgio Chiellini and the entire football family
- I vow to the public that there will never again be another incident like."

See full apology below: