I know its a bit late for world cup woes now especially since it been like almost a month after the final match, but this particular issue will probably never be forgotten. Ghana almost made it to the semi- finals! and who knows how far they would have taken it.
I was chatting with a friend(from Ghana) today on Gmail who just read my post on the Grahamstown festival. They commented on the fact that the blog confirmed the sadness and disappointment that resounded all over the Continent when Ghana was unfairly dismissed through Suarez's Handball. This got me inspired to then post an essay that was originally done for academic purposes but now its to support and show respect for all you Ghanaian people out there. Thanks for making Africa proud!
The essay below was a collaborative piece by myself and the intellectual memory and football knowledge of Joseph Milburn.
Now that the football world cup is done and dusted, we have an opportunity to reflect on a tournament that provided plenty of excitement and entertainment on the field of play. Unfortunately much of the reflection on the thrills and spills of the tournament will centre on some highly contentious and controversial refereeing decisions. The tournament arguably provided two of the most controversial moments in football world cup history. The first occurred in the round of 16 match between old rivals England and Germany, the second in the quarter final game that saw Africa’s most successful team at the tournament, Ghana play Uruguay.
Ghana could have made it through to the next round if it wasn’t for the cowardly hand save by Uruguay striker Luis Suarez. After Algeria, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria and the hosts South Africa were disappointingly knocked out in the group stage (the first round of the tournament), the hopes of the entire continent fell on Ghana’s able shoulders. The black stars of Ghana were publicized as Africa’s great hope, the hopes and dreams of a billion people resting on their progress. The Ghanaians did not disappoint, but they were not given an easy ride.
Ghana fought their way out of what was easily one of the toughest groups in the tournament with an impressive win against Serbia, a credible draw with Australia and a far from embarrassing 1-0 loss to Germany, a team that put 4 goals past each of the Australians, the English and the Argentines. Ghana then defeated the USA in their round of 16, setting up a quarter final tie with Uruguay. With this Ghana reached the quarter finals, joining Cameroon (who did so in 1990) and Senegal (2002), as the only African nations to ever progress that far.
The Uruguay/Ghana game was a tense but engaging affair. During the normal 90 minutes Ghana (through a Sulley Muntari strike), then Uruguay (through eventual golden ball winner Diego Forlan) scored goals either side of half time, resulting in the scores being tied at full time. The game then went into extra time, and was heading for the lottery of a penalty shootout when one of the most controversial incidents of world cup history occurred. Ghana had been pressing the Uruguayan goal for a winner, when their striker Luis Suarez intentionally blocked a goal bound effort with his hands, preventing a certain goal. Suarez was red carded for his offence and a penalty awarded.
African football fans throughout the continent doubtlessly celebrated, when Suarez left the field in shame. However, almost immediately emotions were reversed. Suarez turned to watch as Asamoah Gyan, Ghana’s current goal scoring hero, turned to villain as his penalty hit the woodwork. Suarez and the Uruguayans celebrated the Ghanaians were cruelly robbed of victory at the very death, Gyan’s penalty miss was to be the last kick of extra time and the game went to penalties. Fate seemed to be intent on making Ghana’s exit as cruel as possible, Asamoah was to score in the penalty shootout that followed, however Ghana still lost 4-2.
The Ghanaians and Asamoah in particular were inconsolable in defeat, and with that African hopes at the tournament were dashed. In the eyes of most of those watching the game, Uruguay had clearly cheated and been rewarded, whereas Ghana deserved to win and were sent home with nothing. The Uruguayans were to prove not to show any remorse for their actions, with Suarez calling his block the “real hand of God”[1] The coach of the Uruguayan team, Oscar Tabarez say that Suarez’s actions cannot be considered cheating because he could not have known that Asamoah Gyan would miss the penalty
Football is a beautiful game that transcends the differences that so often tear people apart. It has the potential to unite people of different cultures, backgrounds, financial situations, races and gender. However the beauty and power of the game is marred by situations such as the ones mentioned here, where games are decided by refereeing mistakes or obvious transgressions of the rules of the game that can be called nothing short of cheating. Graham Poll, a former English premier league referee, wrote in the daily mail (July 2010) about the Ghana incident. He believes that FIFA should consider amending the rules so that a goal is awarded to the attacking team in situations where an opposition player has clearly, intentionally prevented a certain goal from being scored illegally, for example by using his hands (not unlike rugby). In situations where fouls are committed within the penalty area, a penalty and perhaps a caution or red card for the offending player should be awarded and remains to be suitable punishment, because even if a player is prevented from attempting to convert a goal scoring opportunity, no one converts a 100% of his chances. However when a certain goal has been prevented, a penalty hardly seems just reward, since penalties are only converted around 75% of the time, and the immense pressures of a world cup quarter final add to the uncertainty.
Yes, so now it may seem to be that I have incredible knowledge about football but that not entirely the case. This little bit of information above in regards to Graham poll was summarised for me. I should admit that it took me a while to get it
In the 1982 world cup played in Spain, during the final leg of the group stages, West Germany played Austria. Algeria had played their final group game earlier and the two European teams knew that a West German win by 1 or 2 goals would see them both qualify. If West Germany won by more than this then Algeria would progress instead, on goal difference. In the event, West Germany scored first after just 10minutes. Neither team attempted to attack for the remaining 80minutes. There was outrage after the game, Algeria had been cheated out of progressing in the tournament and both European teams involved were accused of bad sportsmanship. After this absurd game, FIFA edited the rules so that all the final games in each group at a major tournament would be played simultaneously, to avoid a similar situation ever occurring again. Here they set a noble precedent for promoting good sportsman ship, and endeavouring to ensure that the team with the highest level of skill on the field should progress, rather than the one that can take advantage of loopholes in the rules. Why not step in again now, and change the rules to ensure that a “real hand of God” never decides the course of a tournament or indeed a football game ever again.
sources:
Referee Graham Poll on Suarez penalty:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/worldcup2010/article-1291934/Graham-Poll-Now-lets-penalty-goals-beat-cheats-like-Uruguays-Luis-Suarez.html
Suarez on his handball (the real hand of god):http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jul/03/world-cup-2010-hand-god-suarez
Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez on Suarez handball:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup-2010/teams/uruguay/7869777/World-Cup-2010-Luis-Suarez-handball-against-Ghana-instinctive-says-Uruguay-coach.html
[1] In this he is referring to a 1986 goal by Diego Maradona, also in a world cup quarter final, where he scored a goal with his hand against England, and referred to by him as the “hand of God”).
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