LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Luis Suarez’s appeal of his FIFA ban for biting an opponent at the World Cup will be decided next week.

The Uruguay and Barcelona forward attended a six-hour hearing Friday before the Court of Arbitration for Sport and gave a statement to the court. He is trying to persuade a three-person panel to reduce his ban of four months from all soccer activity, along with nine Uruguay matches in official competitions.

The panel “informed the parties that it will issue its decision as soon as possible, probably before the end of next week”.

Barcelona, which signed Suarez from Liverpool after the World Cup ended, begins the Spanish league season in two weeks.

Suarez has admitted biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini’s shoulder during Uruguay’s 1-0 win in Natal, Brazil. FIFA’s sanction, which runs through Oct. 25, bars Suarez from training with his new teammates.

Lawyers for soccer’s world governing body declined to comment on the case.