Uruguay’s Luis Suarez Handball – Cheating or Brilliant Play?

In yesterday’s World Cup match-up against Ghana, Uruguay’s Luis Suarez made one of the biggest plays in the tournament so far.

With less than a minute in regular time, Ghana was clearly about to score a goal off of a header, when Suarez, the team Striker, decided he would play goalie for a moment and blatantly stop the ball using his hand. An action that immediately earned himself a Red Card and the inability to be able to play in the next match.

And even though the play seen below ended in a penalty kick for Ghana instead of a goal, Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan, would go on to miss the penalty kick, and Ghana would eventually lose to Uruguay in over time penalty kicks.

But now, since Uruguay ended up pulling out the victory, there are different sides trying to determine whether or not what Suarez did completely lacked dignity in the world of soccer? There are certain ways you are supposed to win or lose, and cheating of any kind is extremely frowned upon.

People in Uruguay are treating Suarez like a national hero, and possibly for good reason. If he had not decided to lift up his hands, whether it was instinctual or not, Uruguay would be out of the tournament. The score would have been 2-1 in favor of Ghana with little to no time on the clock, and there is no way Uruguay would have been able to pull something that dramatic out of their ass.

But there are others, including some members of FIFA, who now need to decide if what Suarez did was so wrong that he might not be allowed to play for the rest of the tournament. Whether that be in the Final or in the 3rd place game.

Personally, I am torn between what kind of punishment is good enough for the actions taken by Suarez. Even though he feels that his play is the new “Hand of God“, in the eyes of others, this could definitely be viewed as cheating. And maybe a one game suspension just isn’t enough?

Either way, unlike Brazil’s Felipe Melo, he will not only be able to go back home, but he will be able to go home viewed as a national hero. Let’s just hope he doesn’t plan on visiting the African Nation of Ghana anytime soon. I have a feeling his presence there wouldn’t be quite as welcoming.