Friday 25 July 2014 17:01, UK
The Court of Arbitration for Sport may rule on Luis Suarez's appeal over his ban for biting before the start of the season.
Suarez, the Uruguay Federation and his new club Barcelona, filed requests that the case be fast-tracked - almost exactly a month after FIFA banned the 27-year-old striker for nine competitive international matches and from any football-related activities for four months.
The Court released a statement that confirmed "it is likely that a final award will be rendered well before the end of August".
The world of football was left stunned this summer as Suarez bit an opponent on a football pitch for the third time - clashing with Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini during Uruguay's 1-0 World Cup Group D victory in Natal in an incident the referee failed to spot in 'real' time.
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee swiftly imposed a lengthy suspension and rejected a quick-fire appeal made by the Uruguayan football authorities, and Suarez's eventful summer continued when Barcelona paid Liverpool a fee in the region of £75million for his services despite the saga.
Although FIFA must agree to fast-track the appeal case, no hearing dates have been set and no arbitrators have yet been appointed to hear the case.
The news gives Suarez hope that a ruling will be made before the Spanish season kicks off on the weekend of August 23-24.
