“After several days of being home with my family, I have had the opportunity to regain my calm and reflect about the reality of what occurred during the Italy-Uruguay match,” Suárez said in a statement posted on his Twitter account.

“The truth,” he continued, “is that my colleague Giorgio Chiellini suffered the physical result of a bite in the collision he suffered with me. For this: I deeply regret what occurred. I apologize to Giorgio Chiellini and the entire football family. I vow to the public that there will never again be another incident like” this.

Chiellini appeared to accept the apology, via his Twitter account, writing to Suárez in English: “It’s all forgotten. I hope FIFA will reduce your suspension.”

It is unclear what Suárez’s apology will mean for a possible appeal of the punishment handed down by FIFA after the incident: a suspension for nine international matches; a ban from all football-related activities, including games for his English club team, Liverpool; and a fine of $100,000 Swiss francs, or about $112,000.

Uruguay has filed notice that it will appeal the punishment given to Suárez, and it has until Sunday to file its appeal in writing. But there is no timetable on when FIFA’s appeals committee will take up the matter.

The statement is a direct contradiction of Suárez’s position immediately after the Italy game, when he said he had fallen into Chiellini but had not bitten him.

The apology could also be a move to repair Suárez’s image and ease a possible transfer. While his ban means he cannot play for any team until October, he is allowed to negotiate a transfer to a new club — news media reports have had him on the way to Barcelona — during this summer’s transfer window.

When he was suspended in 2010 for biting an opponent in a Dutch league game, Suárez issued an apology in a video posted on his Facebook page. He served a seven-match ban, but his Dutch club, Ajax, sold him to Liverpool just as it ended.

In April 2013, Suárez was again accused of biting an opponent, Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic, during a Premier League game. That incident prompted a 10-game ban, and another apology — through the club and on Twitter — for what he called “inexcusable behavior.” Liverpool’s managing director, Ian Ayre, said at the time, “"His behavior is not befitting of any player wearing a Liverpool shirt and Luis is aware that he has let himself and everyone associated with the club down.”

Liverpool has made no comment on the current biting incident.