A deliberate hand-ball on the line from Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez prevented a goal for Ghana in their quarterfinal that would have taken them into today's semi in Cape Town. Suarez was sent off, but the Black Stars could not convert the spot-kick and the game went to post-match penalties where the African side lost their nerve ... and the match.
Ghana fans were obviously upset after the game, with Suarez's deliberate act costing them the chance to make history, while the media, in particularly the grumpy British Press, had a field day, calling the South Americans 'cheats'.
But Uruguayan coach Oscar Tabarez shot back in his media conference on Monday, hitting out at those who criticised Suarez and his side, and suggesting they had an ulterior motive in trying to drum up controversy, presumably meaning they simply wanted to sell more newspapers.
It is an interesting debate, though. Quite clearly Suarez knew exactly what he was doing when he palmed the ball off the line from Dominic Adiayah's header. There was nothing accidental about it, and so by using his hands, he was in essence cheating.
The Uruguayan argument is that he was then correctly sent-off (and will miss tonight's semi-final) and Ghana were given the opportunity to right the wrong by being awarded a spot-kick. They spurned the opportunity as Asamoah Gyan struck the crossbar.
But I do have a problem with this. Had Suarez not intervened, it would have been a goal. No doubt about it. So should there not be a provision within football rules that states a deliberate handball on the goal-line to prevent a goal should result in a goal in any case? Like a penalty-try in rugby.
Because by doing what he did, Suarez saved his team in the moment, and then gave them another chance to save themselves from the penalty, which Gyan did for them.
In my view, they should have never been given the 'second life'. The ball was going in, the player deliberately kept it out with his hand in contravention of the rules, the goal should stand. Why should they get the opportunity for the goalkeeper this time to keep it out from the spot-kick?
Are you listening FIFA? Didn't think so ...
