Luis Suarez Reportedly Refused Ballon D'Or Invite over Biting Incident Treatment

Barcelona superstar Luis Suarez has implied that he hasn't forgiven FIFA for their treatment of him during the World Cup in 2014 after refusing an invitation to attend the Ballon d'Or awards ceremony.

In an interview with Uruguayan newspaper Ovacion (h/t Ramiro Aldunate of Marca), the Blaugrana forward expressed doubt about the reasons for his invitation to the event, which Aldunate reports led to Suarez's refusal to attend along with his issues with the 2014 biting punishment.

Aldunate suggested "he still has hard feelings" and remains unhappy about the biting incident with Italy's Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup that led to a lengthy ban. 

"FIFA invited me to the Ballon d'Or gala using the excuse that I'd been named the best player at the Club World Cup," Suarez said. "I don't think they've ever invited the winner of that prize before and it just so happens that they thought to invite me."

Eugene Hoshiko/Associated Press

Suarez also commented on his participation at the FIFA-organised Club World Cup in Japan, with Barca winning the tournament against iconic Argentina side River Plate, as Suarez played a starring role. 

The Uruguayan told Ovacion, via Aldunate's Marca report: "It was a tournament that I was really excited about and I tried not to think about who had organised it."

Here is a video showing the striker's excellent display against River:

Suarez famously bit Chiellini at the World Cup in Brazil and was subsequently banned by FIFA for four months and fined £65,680, as reported by BBC Sport.

Uruguay Football Association president Wilmar Valdez was shocked at the disciplinary measures at the time, saying, per BBC Sport: "I have seen more aggressive incidents recently. It is a severe punishment. I don't know exactly which arguments they used but it is a tough punishment for Suarez."

Luca Bruno/Associated Press

Suarez has been a huge success for his club since leaving Liverpool, inventing himself as a vital cog in the Barcelona machine.

The 28-year-old has carried on his outstanding form this term after winning the treble last season, scoring 23 goals in 23 La Liga and Champions League appearances—according to WhoScored.com.

The player has always had a spiky attitude towards authority in the past, and his feelings towards FIFA are unlikely to dissipate in the near future.

As a character, Suarez operates best when he feels the world is against him, and his form last year was exceptional when many questioned the validity of his move to Catalonia.