Sports biting incidents down the years: Luis Suarez, Mike Tyson, Johan Le Roux
The Lancashire derby between Preston North End and Blackburn Rovers ended 0-0 but was marred by Milutin Osmajic, who allegedly bit Owen Beck's back.
Preston’s Sam Greenwood was sent off in the first half for a rough challenge on Lewis Baker, which seemed to set the tone for the match.
Just before injury time, Beck was sent off for lashing out at Duane Holmes before the Montenegro striker grabbed the Blackburn defender and allegedly sunk his teeth into his upper back.
With an investigation currently ongoing from the FA, Sports News Blitz writer Harry Whitfield reflects on some of the ill-famed biting incidents in sports over the years.
Luis Suarez: Bakkal, Ivanovic and Chiellini
There are not many footballers like Luis Suarez. The Uruguayan has been involved in many scandals, including three separate bans for biting an opposition player in just four years.
In 2010, whilst playing for Dutch club Ajax in a match against PSV, cameras caught the striker biting Otman Bakkal whilst the players were bunched together.
The KNVB issued a seven-match ban to Suarez and his club refused to appeal, which ultimately led him to leave the club for Liverpool in 2011.
However, the biting continued and in a 2-2 draw with Chelsea in 2013, he grabbed Branislav Ivanovic in a tussle and bit him on the shoulder.
The FA issued a 10-match ban this time, with Suarez wanting to switch clubs again for a while before he eventually did in 2014.
However, just before he left for Barcelona, the Champions League winner yet again bit another player, this time at the 2014 World Cup.
In a match between Uruguay and Italy, Suarez bit Giorgio Chiellini in an off-the-ball incident that the officials did not see again.
FIFA issued a four-month ban from all football-related activities this time, including a nine-game international game ban.
READ MORE: Guy Mowbray tips Arsenal to win Premier League; backs Jackson to keep on scoring
Mike Tyson bites Evander Holyfield’s ears
In 1997, a bout between Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield was tarnished by Tyson biting his opponent on each ear.
The first time, in a clinch between the two fighters, the Brooklyn-born fighter took a chunk out of Holyfield’s right ear, with the referee deducting two points for the incident.
The second time, as the two got up close to each other, he took another bite, this time on his left ear and after the round the fight was called off as Tyson was disqualified for his actions.
On the first bite, Holyfield jumped around in agony and disbelief as blood appeared from his ear before continuing the fight.
In the second bite, he initially jolted due to the pain but continued to fight Tyson before the round ended.
The ‘Kid Dynamite’ initially had his boxing licence rescinded in 1997 before having it reinstated a year later.
Rugby Union star Johan Le Roux bites player in a scrum
South African prop Johan Le Roux was found guilty in 1994 of biting New Zealand captain at the time, Sean Fitzpatrick, in a scrum.
It took place in the second Test between the sides in Wellington, which the All Blacks won 13-9.
The skipper ended the game with his ear dripping with blood, as Le Roux was immediately sent on a plane home for his actions.
No officials caught the incident but once again the television cameras captured it all as the player nicknamed ‘The Beast’ was suspended for 18 months, effectively bringing an end to his international rugby career.
In response to the ban, he said: “For an 18-month suspension, I feel I probably should have torn it off.”
