Court of Arbitration for Sport: Verdict on Suarez appeal 'likely' to come before La Liga season

The Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) says it will likely rule on Luis Suarez's appeal against his four-month ban before the La Liga season begins.

The CAS noted Friday that all three parties involved - Suarez, the Uruguayan FA and Barcelona - have requested that the independent institution fast-track their review of the appeal, which was initially rejected by FIFA.

The trio has turned to the CAS as a last resort in their hopes of overturning the hefty suspension levied at the striker after he bit Italy's Giorgio Chiellini in the World Cup. FIFA banned Suarez for nine international matches, as well as slapping him with a four-month ban from all football related activity.

Whether the severity of the suspension is reduced by the CAS remains to be seen, but at the very least, it seems as though Suarez and company won't have to wait too long to find out.

''It is likely that a final award will be rendered well before the end of August,'' the court said in a statement to The Associated Press, via FOX Soccer.

Before that can happen, FIFA must agree to fast-track the process, while arbitrators must also be appointed to the case. Neither of those prerequisites have been met as of yet, the court noted. 

The Spanish league season begins on Aug. 23-24, with Barcelona set to open their season with a home match against Elche.