Luis Suarez’s four-month ban by FIFA was the right level of punishment, claims Alessandro Nesta. Suarez, who is appealing against the ruling, bit Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini on the shoulder during Uruguay’s World Cup victory in Group D.


Nesta, a Sony Team Ambassador at the World Cup, said he believes biting to be worse than spitting. “I used to believe that spitting at another opponent was the worst thing you can do, but biting someone goes beyond,” he said.
“You can think that something is definitely the worst, and then you discover there’s always something worse. I think it’s the right sanction for him.”
Nesta revealed he had also been the victim of a bite during his career. “Yes, during a game in Italy. It was an opposing player, the funniest thing is that we played together previously and we were good friends,” he said.
“But when you’re on the pitch, the adrenaline is pumping and there are no friends any more. I reacted by trying to punch him, luckily the referee didn’t see anything so we both stayed on pitch.”
Nesta added that Italy, sent packing by the Uruguayans, should focus on their younger players. “In my opinion, right now, Italy faces a change between old and young players. It’s not an easy moment for Italian football,” he said.
“We have to look at the younger generation. Marco Verratti is the strongest one we have. Then Alessio Cerci, Lorenzo Insigne, Claudio Marchisio. They are the most talented and they are likely to make a strong contribution in the future. El Shaarawy is another.”