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As we digest and recover after some amazing World Cup quarter finals, the issue of whether Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez is a hero or a villain for his self-proclaimed ‘Hand of God’ moment in the dying moments of his team’s win over Ghana bubbles on.
It was a crucial moment to end an amazing game.
There have been comparisons to Frenchman Thierry Henry’s handball against Ireland during World Cup qualifiers.
Henry’s wasn’t spotted and France made it to South Africa.
Suarez’s was – a penalty and red card awarded.
The Ajax striker was devastated as Ghanaian striker Asamoah Gyan stepped up to take the spot kick.
He was soon rejoicing in the tunnel as Gyan smashed his shot against the crossbar.
The punishment is a one-match ban, meaning he will return to play in the final if his side somehow overcomes the Netherlands.
Ask a Uruguayan if he cares about what Suarez did and he probably won’t – his team are in a World Cup semi final.
The footballer’s instinct prevailed.
“This was the end of the World Cup. I had no choice. I have the ‘Hand of God’ now,” Suarez said.
He added: “I did it so that my teammates could win the penalty shoot-out. When I saw Gyan miss the penalty it was a great joy.”
If you look at the scene again there’s another couple of unbelievable aspects.
Suarez is the man who clears the first ball off the line from Stephen Appiah.
The man next to the striker, Jorge Fucile, on the line by Suarez’s side, misses his own attempted palm away before Suarez’s save.
Suarez allows his head to follow his hands, raising the question of whether he could have headed a clearance.
The bottom line is that sportspeople, regardless of what sport, will attempt to gain any possible advantage.
As they do every four years, some media commentators have failed to recognize this, attempting to judge the world game as the one this is attributed to.
Regardless of sport, the players will always attempt to gain an edge. That’s their job.
The high-pressure environment of sport means sportspeople feel inclined to get ahead in any way they can – even if it means breaking the rules.
Suarez put himself on the line.
If Gyan had scored, Suarez would be an absolute villain.
He made his decision and Uruguay won – he helped his team achieve what it needed to.
Would you have done the same thing?
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