HAND OF GOD, DEVIL OR THE COMMON MAN

What transpired in the quarter final between Ghana and Uruguay in the dying moments of extra time was certainly one of the most dramatic events of the world cup. Uruguay were right in the mouth of the crocodile and were almost knocked out of the world cup, when Luis Suarez made a classical goalie save at the line to deny Ghana. A penalty and red card ensued and Asamoah Gyan missed the penalty in an almost Hollywood movie style finale. The following penalty shoot out was lost by Ghana!!!

I am sure most people would feel that Ghana have been cheated and that there is a major loophole in the FIFA rulebook. Suarez is probably a villain to be banished from society for this heinous crime. Is he??

Well I beg to differ. What would any of us have done in such a situation?? Would we have done the noble thing as John Pantsil the Ghanain defender said?? It is very easy to say from a distance but when the football history and folklore of your country is at stake and an unsatisfied dream of 40 years is hanging in the balance, better men would have crumbled. Suarez did what was best for his team. Although he may very well have played the last match of the world cup, assuming the Dutch can brush aside Uruguay, but he has given his countrymen hope. The rules are there in the book and everyone plays within those rules. Even in our everyday life we try to bend the rules and take advantage of situations when the obviously the deed is unethical. We still do it, we evade taxes, we break traffic rules, we evade the law. Almost every one of us uses loopholes in the rule book to their benefit, then what is wrong with what Suarez did?? Not much let me tell you. That is what FIFA also feels, because he has only been handed the usual one match ban for a straight red card.

Of course your heart does go out to Ghana and especially Gyan. The penalty kick has taken so many casualties over the world cups. These men have been labeled with the misfortune for life. Look at Roberto Baggio, Zico, David Beckham and the list goes on and every world cup adds another fatality. Let us hope that the list is complete for this world cup and we do not see any more heart breaks and tears. That however is the drama at the biggest stage...let us see what transpires ahead.