With the game in the balance, and with his country's hopes and dreams about to be dashed at the absolute last second of extra time, Uruguay's Luis Suarez intentionally commited a handball to clear the ball off the goal line.
Suarez was shown a red card and sent off the pitch, but the rest will go down in World Cup lore. Ghana's Asamoah Gyan, the striker whose turn-around blast sent the US packing last week, drilled the crossbar on his attempt to win the game for the Black Stars. The whistle blew. That was literally the last play of the game! Uruguay nets four penalty kicks to send the tearful Ghanians - Africa's last hope - out of the Cup.
Suarez sacrificed himself so his side could go on, but his handball ended an amazing storyline for Africa's first World Cup. In the postgame presser he even said "la mano de Dios la tengo yo ahora."
So my question to you all regarding Suarez' handball: was that cool to do?
A few "professional" opinions:
(As it happened): Really, he might as well stick out his hand. It's a definite goal otherwise. He's saved his team from certain defeat. Horrible cheating, on the other hand. Surely that'll convert the two remaining non-Ghana fans outside Uruguay to get behind the African heroes?
(Post-game recap): They have cheated their way to victory. Within the rules of the game we all love, but cheating all the same.
From the Wall Street Journal (um, what do they know about soccer?):
Uruguay is back in the World Cup semifinals. The little country had to cheat big-time to get there, but that's another matter.
Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac (via The Sun):
"This was sporting injustice but we must congratulate Uruguay. "I don't know what I would tell Suarez at this moment. It was bad luck. That's all I can say."
And Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez (via The Sun):
"Saying we cheated Ghana is too harsh a word to use. Yes, he stuck his hand out but it's not cheating - I don't think it's fair to say that. The player instinctively reacted and was thrown out of the match and he can't play the next match. What else do you want? Is Suarez also to blame for Ghana missing the penalty?"
Image Source: Wall Street Journal
Online Sources: Wall Street Journal, The Sun, The Guardian, Ovación Digital (Uruguay), Huffington Post, Daily Telegraph
FOR NOW ON IM GOING FOR URUGUAY. I DIDNT THINK THEY CHEATED AT ALL. YOU GUYS ARE JUST MAD BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT IN THE WORLD CUP ANYMORE. LUIS SUAREZ HAND WAS AN INSTINCT AND THAT ITS. HE SACRIFICED HIMSELF FOR THE TEAM. URUGUAY IS AN AMAZING TEAM THEY LEAVE EVERY EFFORT ON THE FIELD. I THINK THEY DESERVE TO WIN THIS WORLD CUP. BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT BEING REALLY FIGHTING ON THE FIELD. EVERYTHING THAT COULD HAPPEN ON A GAME HAPPENED TODAY IN GHANA - URUGUAY. SO I THINK THAT CHEATING IS NOT AN OPTION THEY DESERVED IT AND THEY FOUGHT FOR THE VICTORY. I THINK IS ABSURD TO SOMEONE SAY URUGUAY CHEATED TO VICTORY !!!
ReplyDeleteAfter 90 minutes and overtime this was something very likely to be done. I think anyone in his place would have done it. We saw a lot of stupid maneuvers involving arms in this world cup and you wouldn't do it in this occasion? Ghana had a sure goal in the penalty and they missed it. It is all part of a great game. Both teams played very well. I was surprised to see that Uruguay managed to make it, being that they are not that strong physically.
ReplyDeleteWell he did cheat but got a red card for it. And that is the punishment that stands for that faul play. Suerez will miss the next game. And Uruguay will miss him. I was rooting for Ghana and I feel very bad that they lost but they did miss the penalty in the last minute.
ReplyDeleteBut please stopped with 'hands of god.'
And please stop with the all caps. It really doesn't make a better argument, quite the opposite actually.
greetings, indiani
Suarez violated the rules and he was red-carded for it, the max punishment allowed under current rules.
ReplyDeleteBloggers have gone on as to why he did it, giving all sort of convoluted reasons (and rationales). Thing is, you're young dude, exhausted after 90 mins of WC play and you're the only thing between the ball and a cetain goal. I would have put my hand up, too.
Bloggers have also talked about future rule changes that would give automatic goal to attacking team (in this case, Ghana) if hand is used in situation like this. Fair enough, but that's possible future option, not what existed yesterday...
And to think, FIFA actually considered overextending its authority by banning Suarez for more than one match:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5giOJeREzobrWyByvSDWxvgxPHawQ
Anyway, thanks to everyone for their respective comments and tune in on Sunday for our latest "World Cup Review" we we might discuss:
* how the real hero for Uruguay isn't Luis Suarez;
* the silver lining to Brazil's quarterfinal loss;
* who won't be stripping nude to celebrate their country's team.
Cheating is more when you are trying to hide someone something you did, and you don't want to be known. In this case, you have done something which is not allowed by rules, and it was punished. Or, if a player runs alone to the goal line and a defender fouls him for not to score, you will call him cheater ???? No way. This hand is like a foul when you are last man. And that's it. It has nothing to do with the goal not validated to England, although it was a uruguayan referee, and that's why i think england people are so angry and call it cheat.
ReplyDeleteCheating? There is no cheating in soccer! This is not baseball or hockey guys. A penalty and a red card is the punisment for the fault ("cheating")taht´s the rule.
ReplyDeleteUruguay plays with the hard and thats soccer. It was the best game in the world cup.
A country with only 3 million people that wont 2 world cups and 15 american cups, amazing!Congratulations Uruguay!!