FIFA said early on Wednesday that it had launched disciplinary proceedings against Suarez.

Suarez and the Uruguayan soccer association have until 5 p.m. Brasilia time (2000 UTC) on Wednesday to "provide their position and any documentary evidence they deem relevant."

Uruguay advanced by beating Italy 1-0 on Tuesday in Natal. But just two minutes before the decisive goal, Suarez clashed with Chiellini and was caught by television cameras biting his shoulder.

The referee, Marco Antonio Rodriguez Moreno of Mexico, apparently failed to see the confrontation and took no action. Now FIFA must decide whether to suspend Suarez on the basis of video evidence.

Chiellini pulled down his jersey to reveal what looked like bite marks after the incident in the 79th minute. "It was ridiculous not to send Suarez off," he said in a post-match TV interview.

"It is clear-cut and then there was the obvious dive afterwards, because he knew very well that he did something that he shouldn't have done."

A decision on the matter must be made before Saturday, when Uruguay plays Colombia in a round-of-16 match.

It is not the first time Suarez has been in trouble over biting, with at least two other incidents dating back to 2010. He was also suspended for eight matches in 2011 after being accused of racist insults against Manchester United's Patrice Evra.

jr/jm (AP, Reuters)