Revealed: How 'Cannibal' Suarez sought help for 'teething problems'

Barcelona and Uruguay star Luis Suarez and his wife Sofia Balbi

Barcelona and Uruguay star Luis Suarez and his wife Sofia Balbi. Photograph: David Ramos/Getty Images

Uruguay and Barcelona striker Luis Suarez has revealed the reason why he bites others and how his wife begged him to get help for the same.

A repeat offender for biting players on the field, Suarez, in his new book 'Crossing the Line: My Story', has revealed why he does it and why he finally sought help.

Suarez made front pages around the globe after biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini at this year's World Cup, earning himself a four-month ban from all football-related activity.

In an extract from his book, Suarez wrote that when his wife Sofi saw the footage of the Chiellini bite, she asked him “what on Earth was he thinking, and added that he had to start trying to answer that question for himself”.

He wrote that he had just become a father to a young daughter, Delfina, and the thought that she would grow up to see what he had done upset him more than anything else.

The Barca player also went to great lengths to explain why he reacted to fiery situations with his teeth. He said that the adrenaline levels in a game can be so high – “the pulse is racing and sometimes the brain doesn't keep up,” News.com.au reported.

Luis Suarez reacts as Giorgio Chiellini indicates to the referee that he was bitten

Luis Suarez reacts as Giorgio Chiellini indicates to the referee that he was bitten during their World Cup match in Brazil. Photograph: Matthias Hangst/Getty Images

Suarez states that, moments before the Chiellini bite, he had a great chance to put Uruguay 1-0 up. He wrote that if he had scored that goal then he would not have done anything.

The Urugyuan No 10 also said that the fear of failure clouds everything for him, even the blatantly obvious fact that he has at least 20,000 pairs of eyes on him; it is not as if he is not going to be seen. “Logic doesn't come into it”, he stated.

However, he does accept the blame now, admitting that it was his fault.

Suarez wrote that he'd resisted help in the past because he didn't want it to make him too calm on the pitch, revealing that he had been a hot-headed player his entire life.

But now, after stern talking to from his wife, Sofi, Suarez is trying to eradicate biting from his repertoire.

Suarez said that Sofi and he went away to the countryside to talk about everything, and he finally began to accept what he needed to do. He added that she was annoyed with herself for not having been firmer with him before.