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Blatant Cheating:
Last night a whole continent and anyone who dislikes cheats fervently supported the Dutch in their World Cup semi-final against Uruguay. Thankfully Bert van Marwijk’s team spared Africa the disgusting sight of having its World Cup disgraced by the most blatant cheat in this World Cup getting to play in Africa’s World Cup final. A thrashing would have been nice, but 3-2 would have to suffice. Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben scored the goals the whole of Africa cheered.
Most players would have done it. Ghana had the chance to score the penalty and go through. So what? A blatant piece of cheating by Luis Suárez was rewarded as the Rennes striker Asamoah Gyan struck his last gasp penalty against the cross-bar and over. The cheat was sent off, but stayed to watch the penalty and ran off celebrating. Uruguay broke African hearts in the penalty-shoot out by eliminating the last African side in the competition. No African side had come closer to getting past a quarter-final.
Suárez is a cheat – no ifs nor buts. His cheating took advantage of rules that do not punish it adequately. So what would I do if I was in Suárez’ position with the only chance of robbing another country of its just deserts of qualifying for the semi-final? Simple – the rules should never have allowed me or anyone else to be in that position.
FIFA clamped down on feigning injury, punished a referee for not giving a goal that should have been – Frank Lampard’s against Germany – apologised to England and did u-turn on the issue of technology. They apologised for showing a replay at the ground of an Argentinian goal that should have been ruled out for offside against Mexico and ordered a clampdown on the issue of players trying to get players booked.
All worthy causes you may think, but none were as obvious as what Suárez did, nor had a greater effect. The hopes of a whole continent drained away as the advantage shifted to Uruguay with Gyan’s missed penalty. His success in the shoot-out that followed meant nothing to him. He was inconsolable as Ghana crashed out – taking Africa’s hopes with them. So what has FIFA said about it. Suárez serves a one match ban and could have disgraced the final with his presence had Uruguay beaten Holland.
Pathetic:
There should be no reward at all. In rugby a penalty try would have been awarded, so why doesn’t football stamp out such cheating by awarding a penalty goal? Or if Suárez wants to use his hands so much, then send the keeper off and let Suárez face the penalty himself, or award the penalty leaving the goal empty.
FIFA brings itself into disrepute by failing to comment on how it will make sure that Ghana are the last ever victims of such blatant and outrageous cheating. Celebrating, excusing or justifying cheating such as this disgraces the sport. Suárez and his team prospered from cheating and sent a team that did not deserve to qualify into the semi-final, denying Africa its first ever semi-finalist.
The Black Stars may have done even better. Instead the cheat was banned for one match and had the chance to play in the World Cup Final if his team-mates could take advantage of his cheating. This is by far the worst bit of cheating in the World Cup, but FIFA’s silence on what it will do is deafening.
Bringing the World Cup to Africa is not enough Mr Blatter if Africa will pay a further price for Suárez’ cheating. Ghana was the only African country to emerge from their group. While Mexico and England suffered from mistakes by officials the Suárez situation was different. The referee did everything that he was allowed to do, but was powerless to prevent Suárez benefiting. In this situation the rules of the game were found wanting.
Africa united behind the Black Stars, but both Ghana and Africa were denied the opportunity of the celebration of African football at Africa’s party and possibly seeing the first African champions of the world. Instead of that, thanks to the cheating of Luis Suárez, there was now a real possibility that Europe would get an extra place, based on performances and that will come at the expense of an African team. Thanks Suárez and thanks FIFA for a system that let him get away with this. |
