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| The hand of Suarez: The Uruguay striker was sent off but would be available for the final |
Dominic Adiyah's header was on the way in to give Ghana victory when Suarez deliberately beat the ball out with his hand.
The officials got it spot on, dismissing Suarez and awarding a penalty, but that gave Uruguay a lifeline they did not deserve.
The penalty, the final act in extra time, was missed and Uruguay won the subsequent shoot-out. Referee Olegario Benquerenca would have been relieved to spot the handball, but in the dressing room afterwards his team would have discussed the sense of injustice.
The clause in law under which Suarez was dismissed was the denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity. This carries a one-match ban, leaving Suarez free to play in the final should Uruguay beat Holland.
The problem is that Ghana were denied a goal, not just the opportunity to score one. A penalty goal in these circumstances would be appropriate.
The denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity was seen in the Paraguay v Spain quarter-final, when Antolin Alcaraz brought down David Villa. No striker converts every chance, so awarding a penalty seems fair. Referee Carlos Batres failed to dismiss the Paraguay defender, but it was only an opportunity denied and not a certain goal.
Back to Suarez, who many argue merely acted instinctively. If that is true then awarding a penalty goal and a yellow card seems more appropriate. Then the wronged team would not be denied a goal and the instinctive act less harshly punished.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/worldcup2010/article-1291934/Graham-Poll-Now-lets-penalty-goals-beat-cheats-like-Uruguays-Luis-Suarez.html?ITO=1490#ixzz0sqfkKNmn
Graham Poll:
By Graham Poll Last updated at 12:00 AM on 5th July 2010
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