VIRGINIA footballer Ricardo Russo has been banned from the sport for life after he received a 10-game suspension for biting a Hummocks-Watchman opponent in round two of the Adelaide Plains Football League’s B-grade competition.

The match was Russo’s return game after serving a suspension for an earlier biting charge.

The penalty took his total games suspended to 25 – nine over the APFL’s 16-game threshold for a life ban – and he is not allowed to hold an official role within the league, or its clubs, for two years.

APFL president Michael Vigor condemned Russo’s actions and hopes the suspension will “send a message”.

“Our league doesn’t condone that sort of behaviour, and no opposition player deserved to have that type of behaviour inflicted upon him,” he said.

“From that perspective, we’ve taken a hard stand and hopefully it’ll send a message that might prevent this from happening in the future.”

Mr Vigor said all parties have accepted the penalty, “including the player involved”.

Virginia president Emanuel Tsimiklis echoed Mr Vigor’s statement.

“The matter’s been dealt with for a while,” he said.

“The club’s dealt with it, he’s got his whack, so we’re just moving forward now.”