Reason Why Ghana Team Hates Luis Suarez and Uruguay – Luis Suarez Handball Incident

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The last time Ghana and Uruguay played was in the quarter-finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Uruguay emerged as the eventual winners, knocking the African nation out of the tournament as they came close to making history.

Why Ghana Fans Called “The Hand Of The Devil”, to Luis Suarez

The controversial incident took place in the last match of the quarter-final match between Ghana and Uruguay. With the score tied 1-1 in extra time, Diego Forlan canceled out Ghana’s Sali Mantri’s superb first goal.

Ghana was the last African team to host the first World Cup, held in South Africa, so they had the hopes of not only their country but the entire continent on their shoulders.

Many may remember what happened in the 2010 quarter-finals before Luis Suarez decided to take matters into his own hands. Earlier in the game, Uruguayan goalkeeper Fernando Muslera was beaten with a regular long-range strike by Sulley Muntari which was converted at the last minute. Captain Diego Forlan equalized with his free kick.

What was the Luis Suarez handball Incident?-  Hand Of The Devil Incident?

As the game progressed, Ghana looked like the better side as Uruguay’s defense became increasingly strong and the Africans continued to create chances. However, by the 120th minute, the match was known more for the antics of the Jabulani (the infamous ball used in the 2010 World Cup) than for the actual football.

Then suddenly everything changed. He was awarded a free kick from a good position on the right in what would surely be the last chance for the Ghanaians to win the game in extra time. The next six seconds were completely chaotic after John Paintsil put the ball into Uruguay’s box.

Kevin-Prince Boateng flicked the ball past John Mensa’s near post and Uruguay’s defenders scrambled, only for goalkeeper Muslera to bravely punch it out. But Muslera could not make good contact, the ball fell to the feet of Stephen Appiah, who was two feet in front of the goal and the keeper was out of position.

However, Appiah’s blistering strike would not cross the line, hitting the shins of Luis Suárez, who was now standing right in front of the goal as the last line of defense. The ball rolled straight to the head of Dominic Adiyah, who headed it firmly towards the goal.

But the ball escaped comfortably. Not just from the goalkeeper, but also from Luis Suarez who punched the ball away from his hands, which could have resulted in a special goal.

The Ghanaian players erupted in protest as the referee blew his whistle, while the Uruguayan players looked at each other. Suárez was shown a red card for handball and Ghana were awarded a penalty.

Suárez walked off the pitch in tears as Ghana’s talisman, forward Asamoah Gyan, looked set to score with the final kick of the game and grab a golden opportunity to send his country into the World Cup semi-finals. Fans throughout the stadium stood in anticipation as the team representing the hopes of the entire African continent were on the verge of reaching the semi-finals.

ALSO WATCH: FIFA World cup 2022 : Ghana vs Uruguay

However, the drama didn’t stop here. Star striker Gyan’s – who had already scored two penalties in previous matches in the tournament – smashed the crucial penalty over the crossbar as TV cameras captured Suarez celebrating wildly in the ground.

Suarez, who had looked devastated a moment earlier, historically ran towards the sidelines, celebrating indecisively as the Ghanaian fell to the ground.

Watch Luis Suarez handball Incident

Ghana was going to make history and become the first African nation to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup, instead it turned out Luis Suarez to be the most despised man in Africa.

The game will now go to penalties. And as luck would have it, Ghana missed two penalties, sending Uruguay through to the semi-finals and validating Suarez’s decision to sacrifice himself to give his team a chance.

What did Suarez say before the Ghana match?

Asked about the incident in the build-up to the latest Ghana v Uruguay match, the former Liverpool and Barcelona striker showed little remorse for his actions on that fateful night.

He said: “I took a red card, it was not my fault that the Ghana player missed the penalty.

“You can’t keep thinking about the past or revenge.”

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