Luis Suarez, who was kicked out of the World Cup on Thursday for biting, claimed he had lost his balance and stumbled into Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini's shoulder.
"My face made impact with the player ... leaving me with severe pain in my teeth. In no way can this be described as biting or attempting to bite," Suarez said, according to a copy of the FIFA disciplinary committee judgement seen by AFP.
FIFA rejected Suarez's defence, banning him from all football-related activity for four months and nine international matches, the heaviest sanctions ever imposed on a player at a World Cup.
The disciplinary panel noted in its judgement Suarez had not "any repentance, remorse, or acknowledgement" of wrongdoing.