We are in murky, uncharted waters. The case of Luis Suarez is unprecedented, unpredictable and potentially unlimited in its scope. Already an international incident, it is the cause célèbre which could be the catalyst for a radical realignment of world football.

The tenor of the debate is set. Suarez’s punishment is either the iniquitous demonisation of a nation’s favourite son, or the overdue imposition of a code of conduct on a game which lacks an ethical dimension.

Anger and rancour encourage simplistic judgements, and the devil, as always, is in the detail. This signals an implicit threat to the pseudo-statesmen who run the global game for their own convenience, on behalf of FIFA, an institution accustomed to the imposition of absolute power.

They subjugate host nations, accumulate vast wealth and dispense summary justice. They are not the only hypocrites annexing the moral high ground, but the ramifications of banning the Uruguayan for four months, for his latest episode of self-destructive behaviour, may not have been fully thought through.

FiIFA was at pains to point out, in a revealingly urgent supplementary statement on the disciplinary process, that his suspension from “any kind of football-related activity (administrative, sports or any other)” did not preclude Suarez’s involvement in a summer transfer.

That partially neutralised a political and legal minefield, in addressing perceptions it had potentially acted against Liverpool’s commercial interests, but the threat of the issue being dragged through the courts, and mutating into a concerted challenge against assumptions of FIFA’s omnipotence, is real.

With sources speaking of a “lynching” by the “FIFA mafia”, and a social media campaign proclaiming “We are all #Suarez!”, realpolitik made it inevitable that Uruguayan Sports Minister, Liliam Kechichian, condemned his “excessive punishment” before briefing President Jose Mujica on the options.

Mujica was in hawkish mood. Even before the verdict was announced, he had defended Suarez in a national radio address. “We didn’t choose him to be a philosopher or a mechanic,” he said, “and neither to have good manners. He’s an excellent player.”

The immediate appeal by the Uruguayan FA was a foregone conclusion. In the words of its president Wilmar Valdez: “It feels like Uruguay has been thrown out of the World Cup.” Speculation that the team would refuse to turn up for tomorrow’s match against Colombia seems far-fetched, but it indicates the level of paranoia and dissension.

Domestically, Liverpool, Suarez’s principal employers, have no such right of appeal. Under football’s arcane system, they are bound by regulations to accept the legitimacy of decisions taken by national or international governing bodies.

Luis Suarez - past controversies 9 show all Luis Suarez - past controversies 1/9 November 2007 Joins Ajax from Uruguayan side Nacional but he is later suspended by the Dutch giants after a half-time dressing-room altercation with team-mate Albert Luque. 2/9 July 2010 During the 2010 World Cup quarter-finals, Suarez prevents Ghana's Dominic Adiyiah from scoring in the final minute with a deliberate handball on the line and is subsequently sent off. A penalty was awarded but missed by Asamoah Gyan and footage showed Suarez celebrating on the sidelines. Uruguay eventually went through to the last four on penalties. 3/9 November 2010 Handed a seven-match ban by the Dutch FA and fined by his club for biting PSV Eindhoven midfielder Otman Bakkal during an Eredivisie match. 4/9 October 2011 Alleged to have racially abused Manchester United's Patrice Evra during a Premier League match. Later found guilty by an independent regulatory commission, banned for eight matches and fined £40,000. 5/9 December 2011 Seen making an offensive gesture towards Fulham fans. At this time he had already been charged by the FA over the racism incident, although not yet punished, but was handed a further one-match ban for the gesture. 6/9 February 2012 United and Liverpool met again at Old Trafford, but more controversy blew up as Suarez refuses to shake Evra's hand before kick-off. 7/9 October 2012 Celebrates a goal against Everton by diving in front of Toffees boss David Moyes, who had earlier claimed that "divers" such as Suarez were putting fans off the English game. 8/9 April 2013 Bites Branislav Ivanovic on the arm but escapes punishment on the pitch as the referee fails to see it, and scores Liverpool's equaliser seven minutes into stoppage time as they draw 2-2 with Chelsea at Anfield. Fined by club the following day and charged with violent conduct by the FA. Subsequently handed a 10-match ban by an independent regulatory commission, which Liverpool opt not to appeal against. 9/9 June 2014 Television replays show Suarez moving his head towards Chiellini, who responded by swinging an arm before chasing the referee to apparently insist he had been bitten on his shoulder. GETTY 1/9 November 2007 Joins Ajax from Uruguayan side Nacional but he is later suspended by the Dutch giants after a half-time dressing-room altercation with team-mate Albert Luque. 2/9 July 2010 During the 2010 World Cup quarter-finals, Suarez prevents Ghana's Dominic Adiyiah from scoring in the final minute with a deliberate handball on the line and is subsequently sent off. A penalty was awarded but missed by Asamoah Gyan and footage showed Suarez celebrating on the sidelines. Uruguay eventually went through to the last four on penalties. 3/9 November 2010 Handed a seven-match ban by the Dutch FA and fined by his club for biting PSV Eindhoven midfielder Otman Bakkal during an Eredivisie match. 4/9 October 2011 Alleged to have racially abused Manchester United's Patrice Evra during a Premier League match. Later found guilty by an independent regulatory commission, banned for eight matches and fined £40,000. 5/9 December 2011 Seen making an offensive gesture towards Fulham fans. At this time he had already been charged by the FA over the racism incident, although not yet punished, but was handed a further one-match ban for the gesture. 6/9 February 2012 United and Liverpool met again at Old Trafford, but more controversy blew up as Suarez refuses to shake Evra's hand before kick-off. 7/9 October 2012 Celebrates a goal against Everton by diving in front of Toffees boss David Moyes, who had earlier claimed that "divers" such as Suarez were putting fans off the English game. 8/9 April 2013 Bites Branislav Ivanovic on the arm but escapes punishment on the pitch as the referee fails to see it, and scores Liverpool's equaliser seven minutes into stoppage time as they draw 2-2 with Chelsea at Anfield. Fined by club the following day and charged with violent conduct by the FA. Subsequently handed a 10-match ban by an independent regulatory commission, which Liverpool opt not to appeal against. 9/9 June 2014 Television replays show Suarez moving his head towards Chiellini, who responded by swinging an arm before chasing the referee to apparently insist he had been bitten on his shoulder. GETTY

That would seem to offend the laws of natural justice, since through no fault of their own they will be denied the services of their most valuable player for the first 13 matches of next season. Suarez will be prevented from training, and attending games. Yet he will still expect to be paid.

They are keeping their own counsel, in the short term at least, and appear determined not to repeat the mistake of revelling in his supposed martyrdom. The club have been isolated from the process by the Uruguayans, and the relationship between Ian Ayre, Liverpool’s managing director, and Pere Guardiola, Suarez’s agent, will be critical.

Pragmatism is likely, because everyone in football is conditioned to act in self-interest. Although the club could have a case for taking action against Suarez for breach of contract, expect them to take a measured view. He remains a prized commodity, though the potential impact of the punishment on any transfer fee, while difficult to quantify, may demand redress.

“It will be interesting to see what action the club take,” said Glenn Hayes, employment partner at the law firm Irwin Mitchell. “Suarez may not have been directly representing his employer at the World Cup, but the potential reputational and financial damage is significant.”

Legal action against FIFA cannot be ruled out, and the broader issue, of increasing resentment at the implications and impositions involved in international football, festers. The Suarez situation will inflame opinions, and renew suggestions that FIFA ’s autocracy must be contested.

Leading clubs are mollified to an extent by lucrative domestic and Champions League television deals. But this compromises their right to be in control of their employees. Any challenge to the status quo, through the courts, has huge implications.

A breakaway Super League, long mooted, is possible because, despite their pretensions, bodies such as Uefa and FIFA would ultimately be powerless to sanction a well-funded, corporately supported, rebel initiative. It would spell the end of the World Cup in its current form.

FIFA may be institutionally incapable of dealing with a prevailing culture of greed, corruption and triumphalism, but perceptions of vulnerability will not be lost on Sepp Blatter, who refused to comment on the Suarez situation. FIFA may dispense solutions to football’s ills, but it is the game’s biggest problem.