FIFA have announced Uruguay striker Luis Suarez is facing disciplinary proceedings after he appeared to bite Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini during their World Cup match in Natal on Tuesday.
FIFA's disciplinary committee has taken retrospective action and Suarez could be facing a lengthy ban that would keep him out of the last-16 match against Colombia and beyond should Uruguay progress.
It could even end up affecting the Liverpool striker's domestic career.
Uruguay and Suarez have until 5pm local time (2100 BST) on Wednesday to provide evidence.
A statement on FIFA's website said: "FIFA can confirm that disciplinary proceedings have been opened against the player Luis Suarez of Uruguay following an apparent breach of article 48 and/or article 57 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil match Italy-Uruguay played on June 24 2014.
"The player and/or the Uruguayan FA are invited to provide with their position and any documentary evidence they deem relevant until June 25 2014, 5pm, Brasilia time.
"According to article 77 lit. a of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC), the FIFA Disciplinary Committee is responsible for sanctioning serious infringements which have escaped the match officials' attention.
"Furthermore, according to article 96 of the FDC, any type of proof may be produced (paragraph 1), in particular are admissible, reports from referees, declarations from the parties and witnesses, material evidence, audio or video recordings (paragraph 3)."
