Luis Suárez charged with violent conduct by FA and facing lengthy ban

Luis Suarez in action

Downing Street has called on the Football Association to make an example of Luis Suarez after he was charged with violent conduct for biting Branislav Ivanovic and Liverpool declared their leading striker would not be sold as a result of his latest indiscretion.

The FA cleared the way for Suárez to receive a substantial suspension after confirming the referee Kevin Friend missed Sunday's shocking incident at Anfield and the ruling body said an automatic three-match ban for violent conduct would be "clearly insufficient". Support for an increased punishment arrived from an unlikely source when a spokesman for David Cameron entered the debate over Suárez's conduct.

"It is rightly a matter for the football authorities to consider," said the prime minister's spokesman. "As part of their consideration, I think it would be very understandable if they took into account the fact that high-profile players are often role models."

Contrary to claims from Suárez, Ivanovic has not accepted an apology for having his arm bitten during the 2-2 draw at Anfield. The striker's sponsor, Adidas, has taken the unusual step of criticising its own client, while Liverpool fined the Uruguay international an undisclosed sum on Monday morning, which Suárez asked to be donated to the Hillsborough Family Support Group. The Professional Footballers' Association has also offered anger management counselling. Suárez's nomination for the PFA player of the year award will not be withdrawn, however.

The FA is to appoint a three-man independent commission to consider Suárez's violent conduct charge on Wednesday . The panel, comprising a chairman, a former footballer and an FA council member, all of whom are independent of the two clubs involved, will have the power to impose an extended suspension on the 26-year-old. Suárez received an eight-match ban plus a £40,000 fine for using racially abusive language towards Patrice Evra last season and the commission can take his past conduct into account when deciding its verdict.

Margaret Thatcher dead at 87 following stroke

Margaret Thatcher, the most dominant British prime minister since Winston Churchill in 1940 and a global champion of the late 20th-century free market economic revival, has died.

Her spokesman, Lord Bell, said on Monday: "It is with great sadness that Mark and Carol Thatcher announced that their mother Baroness Thatcher died peacefully following a stroke this morning.

"Downing Street announced that she would receive a ceremonial funeral with military honours at St Paul's Cathedral.

Thatcher, who was 87, had been in declining health for some years, suffering from dementia. The death of Sir Denis Thatcher, her husband of 50 years and closest confidante, intensified her isolation in what had proved a frustrating retirement, despite energetic worldwide activity in the early years.

"A further statement will be made later" said Lord Bell