As the fallout of the Ghana/Uruguay quarterfinal still takes place one thing has struck me about the game.
In the dying moments of extra time supposed United target Luis Suarez was sent off for hand balling a Ghana effort off the line, he was red carded and Ghana were awarded a penalty that they subsequently missed and has since been labelled a cheater amongst other things.
I am not a fan of cheating and I don’t advocate such things but I recognise a difference in cheating and doing what you have to do for the better of your team. Amidst all the hype surrounding Ghana being ‘a continent’s last hope’ it appears people have lost sense.
We would all like to say we are honest human beings and that in the same position we wouldn’t do the same but the fact is that’s a lie. All of us would have done the same thing and had our team gone on to win, accepted the praise for sacrificing yourself for your team.
Let’s play out a scenario, swap Ghana for Germany and Uruguay for England and Wayne Rooney for Suarez, I don’t think he would be slaughtered for it.
In fact lets not do a scenario, lets work with real life. Start of the 08/09 season and we played Zenit St. Petersburg in the Uefa Super Cup. Losing 2-1, Paul Scholes attempted to handle the ball into the net late on. He was caught and sent off but rather than lambast him as a cheater we laughed at lovable Paul Scholes or put it down to a moment of madness.
Need another example? Here’s a good one.
United were playing Newcastle in the 97/98 season and had begun to lose our position atop the table, a position we had held for 6 months. We had lost to Arsenal, our closest rivals, the week before and needed a win to solidify our position.
At 1-1 with 10 minutes to go Solskjaer was brought on as we chased a result. We got a late corner and as we were sought the points piled men forward. Beckham swung it in but it was cleared quicker than expected and Newcastle broke. Rob Lee ran through clear on goal, one on one with Van der Gouw, and when it looked like he was about to snatch the points for Newcastle, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer who was 10 yards behind Rob Lee initially,brought him down just outside the box and got a straight red.
As he went off he told David Beckham, who ran over to show appreciation,
“I had to do it,”
He left the field to a standing ovation and this was part of the legend that was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Nobody called him a cheat for such a thing or would even dare to do so, as he did it for the good of his team.
So before you go casting stones at Suarez and calling him every name under the sun, realise he didn’t commit the act selfishly like Maradona’s ‘hand of God’ goal, rather it was a selfless act for the good of his team who had battled for the previous 120 minutes.
WHats the point if winning something if you know you cheated to get there.FCK U SUAREZ nd screw u Uruguay.It saddend me when suarez was lifted by his mates in the end.i love soccer always have but i do think it lacks respect,sprotmanship and pride.i’d rather lose knowing i did fairly than break the hopes of others for personal gain by cheating.think about that u idiot
Don’t understand the big deal. He took a necessary risk given the circumstances, knowing that it would result in a penalty and a sending off. I would have done the same thing. The loss is 100% on Ghana. All they had to do was make a single penalty kick. They failed. End of. Don’t blame Suarez for Gyan’s mistake.
I would like if you didn’t call me an idiot firstly.
Secondly, it’s an unpopular opinion I know but you can sit there and say
“i’d rather lose knowing i did fairly” but when it comes down to the actual moment you don’t know how you would react with the likely hood being you would do the same.
I don’t know if you’re a United fan or not but as with the examples provided should we say fuck them too?
By you’re logic Henry is a God and should be worshiped for his handball,Viva La France anyone?!
How was it ‘cheating’? That’s ridiculous. Suarez sacrificed himself for the greater good of his team. That’s football! Gyan, after squandering at least fourteen chances today, choked on taking a penalty. Gyan baby Gyan! When Muller stomped on Wayne Rooney at the beginning of the ECC Quarters second leg did he ‘cheat’ because it not only destroyed United’s season, but also England’s.
Shame, innit?
In this modern age of football, where there are huge stakes involved, including glory and pride for the country and individual, there are always going to be controversial moments. Toss cash bonuses into the hat and you will start to think how you would react in such situations. Suarez did what he had to do for his country. Gyan had a chance to do something for his country as well, but didn’t take his chance. Let’s move on… no point arguing what should have been and not. Its never ending……
There is a marked difference in Solskjaer and Suarez. Solskjaer otherwise behaved impeccably on the pitch, which was why his sacrifice was so stunning. Suarez is probably the biggest cry baby in the world cup apart from that Spanish scouser, and behaves basically like an idiot whatever happens whereever on the pitch (cheats, feigns injury etc).
So, there arent really any comparison between the two. OLEgend and a cry baby.
Suarez done the right thing for his team any one wud,espeacialy in the world cup it only comes every 4 years
@Ed
be logical. It was not in the same class as that. Suarez didn’t try to con or deceive anyone. He knew what he was doing, it was tactical.
@Ole P
if thats the stance you want to take then why are you sticking up for Ghana? Did you not see how often they feigned injury not only in this game but also against USA?
I’m not comparing his with Solskjaer as a person but they actions are similar. They both took the bullet for their team, simple as.
Sigh, Saurez. Deliberately cheating to kill the dream of Africa. I don’t care who else did it, it is STILL cheating. FIFA stands by the motto, “Fair Play.” I ask you is blocking the ball with your hands to prevent a goal fair play? If that is what the game has become, what will it be in the next 20 years?