Rome, June 25 - FIFA has opened a probe into Uruguay striker Luis Suarez for apparently biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini during his side's 1-0 win at the World Cup on Tuesday, a defeat that saw Italy exit at the group stage.

TV replays seem to show Suarez sink his teeth into Chiellini's shoulder in an off-the-ball incident and the Juventus centre-back showed marks after the match to prove he was bitten.

FIFA are expected to give Liverpool striker Suarez, who has been banned twice in the past for biting, a lengthy ban to ensure he takes no further part in the World Cup. Suarez was banned for 10 games last year after biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic in a Premier League match and in 2010 he was suspended for seven games for a similar offence against PSV Eindhoven's Otman Bakkal while playing for Ajax Amsterdam.

Italy were furious at the referee for missing the biting incident and for his 59th-minute sending off of midfielder Claudio Marchisio for a dangerous challenge. Most Italian commentators say the foul was a yellow-card offence at the most, although replays did show Marchisio's studs land in the leg of Uruguay's Egidio Arevalo Rios. The bite incident took place shortly before defender Diego Godin headed in the winning goal for the South Americans from a corner on 81 minutes.

The Azzurri's early exit from the World Cup prompted coach Cesare Prandelli and Italian Soccer Federation President Giancarlo Abete to quit.