FIFA have confirmed that Uruguay striker Luis Suarez could miss the rest of the World Cup following his hand-ball against Ghana.
Suarez was given a straight red card for saving a goalbound-header on the line in extra-time.
Ghana missed the resulting penalty and Uruguay went through to the semi-final after winning a shoot-out.
The Ajax forward will serve an automatic one-match ban ruling him out of the semi-final with Holland.
But FIFA's disciplinary committee will look at the case to see whether he should also be suspended for Uruguay's last match of the tournament — which will be either the final or the third-place play-off.
FIFA spokesman Pekka Odriozola said: "For automatic red cards there is an automatic one-match suspension.
"The disciplinary committee also opens a case and they will be looking at that incident and taking a decision."
FIFA's disciplinary code gives the committee the option of a longer ban for "unsportsmanlike conduct".
Suarez is being hailed as a hero in his home country but the incident has provoked condemnation in other parts of the world.
His action is also contrary to FIFA's fair play code which states: "Winning is without value if victory has been achieved unfairly or dishonestly.
"Cheating is easy, but brings no pleasure"
