Truemors
is reporting from
Member
NP Rank:
NP Rank:
Oscar Tabárez Defends Luis Suárez's Handball Against Ghana
Share: 
by Amy Judd | July 5, 2010 at 01:44 pm
780 views | 0 Recommendations | 8 comments
Oscar Tabárez, Uruguay's Coach, Faced the Media on Monday and Some Tough Criticism For Luis Suárez's HandBall Against Ghana
Uruguay take on The Netherlands on Tuesday in a semi-final match-up, but on Monday Uruguay's coach faced some harsh criticism from the media for one of his player's handball's in the net at the very end of their game against Ghana.
Some critics suggested that the only reason Uruguay has reached the semi-finals is due to that handball, but Tabárez angrily dismissed those claims calling the British press 'shameful'. If Dominic Adiyiah's header would have made it in to the goal then Ghana would have become the first African team ever to make it to the World Cup semi-finals.
Perhaps criticism of Suárez, who will miss tomorrow's game due to his handball, was heightened when he celebrated on the sideline and proclaimed 'the Hand of God now belongs to me'.
Tabárez does not feel that is as embarrassing as what is being suggested in the media about his team:
"I'm embarrassed by what is being asked by the British press. That is truly shameful. They have been speculating about an action that happens on a football pitch and is dealt with in the laws of the game. It happened [to Harry Kewell] in Australia's game with Ghana. It happened in 1990 when Uruguay played Spain and a player on the goalline blocked a shot with both hands.
Uruguay finished fourth in 1970 and have not managed to advance beyond the second stage ever since, so they are making history of their own tomorrow.
Tabárez says Suárez acted instinctively and said no one could foresee Ghana missing the penalties they way they did.
Don't talk to me about a lack of humility. The Uruguayan people bring out their collective personal strength when they have to. We are very proud, and we're upset by this topic. We're proud of our performances and what we've contributed to this World Cup. Uruguay went through the three previous games with hardly a yellow card, so please don't tell me we're cheats."
When the teams meet on July 6 it is still anyone's guess who may be going to the finals of the 2010 World Cup.
Photos
Advertisement
NowPublic on Facebook
What is NowPublic?
NowPublic lets people work together to cover news events around the world.
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (8)
at 16:15 on July 5th, 2010
I think FIFA should ban Saurez for a longer time as this is a big disgrace to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Looking at the picture you can clearer see that this guy is delibrately reaching for the ball with his hands. Henceforth, if you see your team about to loose,get into the net and catch the ball with yours hands even if you're not a goal keeper. SHAME ON THE URUGUAY TEAM, SHAME ON SUAREZ...He's not worthy to be called a great footballer.
at 12:44 on July 6th, 2010
I disagree for the reasons I state here: http://www.nowpublic.com/sports/dont-hate-uruguayan-player-hate-fifa-game
World Cup football has never been the pinnacle of good sportsmanship for the sport, and 2010 South Africa has been no exception. To expect players to prioritize good sportsmanship over winning at all costs is to be ignorant about the culture of competition among elite athletes in team sports.
at 02:33 on July 6th, 2010
This is just shameful, but dwelling on it is not going to lead to anything. Denying the first African Team to have reached the semi finals of the world cup in this way is just shameful. All the respect I had for Suarez is gone now. Lets just hope he doesn't turn the game against Holland into a valley ball match.
at 02:37 on July 6th, 2010
Suarez misses the Holland match but I hope his fellow team mates do not turn the match into a volley ball match....lool
at 02:35 on July 6th, 2010
This is just shameful, but dwelling on it is not going to lead to anything. Denying the first African Team to have reached the semi finals of the worldcup in this way is just shameful. All the respect I had for Suarez is gone now. Lets just hope they don't turn the game against Holland into a valley ball match.
at 08:25 on July 6th, 2010
I was deeply saddened that Ghana were denied their rightful advancement into the semi's by a blatant cheat. What is more disturbing is that Suárez actually celebrated his cheating. Of course he was immediately disciplined with a red card and Ghana given a free kick - but clearly that was not the same thing. The handball stopped an otherwise definite goal. The laws of soccer should be reviewed and if you deliberately cheat to prevent a goal – then the goal should be awarded immediately. There should be an extremely harsh punishment for a deliberate handball - perhaps 10 matches or even life ban.... that would put an end to this practice altogether. I understand by Suárez 's comment that the Uruguayan people are proud to be cheats? I think that his fellow countrymen would strongly disagree. What a shameful ting to say.
at 12:49 on July 6th, 2010
In my view, the Suárez handball would have been cheating only if he had made any attempt to conceal his move in an attempt to prevent the referee from noticing what he was doing. But that clearly was not the case.
The handball was so brazenly obvious and intentional, his and Uruguay's reputation would be vulnerable for all the world's football fans to criticize regardless of the result of the ensuing Ghana penalty kick.
In the realm of football or any other realm of reality, cheating cannot happen without the conditions for it to be possible.
at 12:02 on July 9th, 2010
what a save this was! it single handedly kept a nation's world cup dreams alive. what he did was completely within the rules of the game, and it's been dealt with accordingly. i love how people didn't have a whole lot to say when zidane HEADBUTTED another player, but will go up in arms about the spirit of the game when a player ensures that his team won't win. the handball didn't deny the ghanians anything, missing THREE penalties did. ;)