Uruguayan football player, luis Suarez, has refused to apologize for his Uruguay Vs Ghana handball incident that led to Ghana’s 2010 World Cup elimination.
The striker noted that the hate Ghanaians harbor for him after he denied them a goal with his hands at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa is misplaced.
Uruguay striker Suarez’s deliberate handball on the goal-line at the end of extra time in the quarterfinals of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa denied Ghana a certain goal and a place in history as the first African team to reach the semis. Suarez was sent off for the handball but celebrated wildly on the sidelines when Asamoah Gyan hit the penalty off the crossbar. Uruguay won the ensuing penalty shootout.
Speaking in an interview ahead of their match with Blacks Stars today December 1, the Uruguay striker stated that Ghanaians should rather direct their anger to Asamoah Gyan, who happened to be the player that missed the resulting penalty from his handball.
“The first time, I don’t apologise about that,” he told the media at a press conference ahead of Uruguay’s final group game against Ghana at the 2022 World Cup.
“I take the handball but the Ghana player missed a penalty, not me. Maybe I apologise if I injure a player but in this situation, I take a red card, the referee says penalty, it’s not my fault.”
Luis Suarez
That incident has stood in the memories of Ghanaians for a long time with some demanding an apology from the former the football star.
Ghana can now go some way toward settling the score. By beating Uruguay in their final Group H match, Ghana would advance to the round of 16, while knocking Uruguay out of the tournament.
Ghana Meeting Uruguay Is not A Big Topic
Though the match in Al Wakrah has been ticked as one to watch ever since the World Cup draw was made, Ghana’s Coach Otto Addo tried his best to cast it as a “normal game” despite 2010 remaining a raw and painful memory for many Ghanaians, who are demanding revenge for the handball.
“For me, it’s not a big topic”, Coach Addo stated, adding that he wouldn’t criticize one of his own players if they did the same as Suarez.
“I would expect every player to do all he can to make sure his team goes through. Even sacrificing himself with a red card.
“What happened in 2010 is very sad but we can’t change it. We want to look forward and we want to win this game.”
Coach Addo
Following the victory over South Korea, Addo urged the players to keep putting in the work to achieve what they want to do at the global showpiece.
The Black Stars must win again in Al Wakrah to be certain of going past the group stage for the first time since 2010. A draw could also be enough depending on the result of South Korea vs. Portugal.
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