Giorgio Chiellini (left) claims he was bitten by Uruguay's Luis Suarez (right) during the FIFA World Cup 2014 group D preliminary round match between Italy and Uruguay at the Estadio Arena das Dunas in Natal, Brazil, 24 June 2014. - EPA/EMILIO LAVANDEIRA JR
SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Companies ranging from McDonalds to Trident chewing gum to JC Penney gobbled up the free publicity offered by Uruguay striker Luis Suarez's incredible bite on Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini during a World Cup match on Tuesday.
Suarez was caught chomping on the Italian's shoulder near the end of Uruguay's 1-0 win, the third such indiscretion of his controversial career.
The incident was perfect fodder for twitter with some of the world's biggest companies among those eager to get their teeth into a ripe advertising opportunity.
"Chew Trident. Not soccer players," tweeted the gum maker.
"Hey @luis16suarez. Next time you're hungry just grab a Snickers," said makers of the chocolate bar.
"Relax, they’re twist off," Bud Light said of its beer caps, alongside a photo of a man with suspiciously Suarez looking teeth trying to open a bottle with his mouth.
Many of the tweets were addressed directly to Suarez himself, who has more than three million followers on twitter.
"Hi @luis16suarez, if you're really hungry why don't you take a bite out a BigMac," asked McDonald's Uruguay.
"We recommend a good swish after grabbing a bite of Italian," Listerine global helpfully added.
No brand was too shy and no connection too tenuous.
Even U.S. department store JC Penney's got in on the act. "Fangs for the memories, Uruguay," read their tweet, below a picture of a kid in a vampire cape.
The referee did not see the bite incident although FIFA are investigating with Suarez facing a lengthy ban.
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