To be fair, it wouldn't have meant jack if it had been seen by everyone in the stadium and the television cameras if the officials hadn't seen it. But whether or not the handball was justified or should be praised (I still think it shouldn't), I think we can all agree Suarez is a dick not for the handball but for the reaction afterwards (among other reasons).
The argument that the words Suarez used can be excused because they use it in his homeland is ridiculous...he saw it caused offence and just carried on repeating it and even pinched his opponent's skin to make the point. The worst thing about it though was Liverpool's reaction even though Suarez admitted to it. As for the handball: I would be ashamed if an England player did it deliberately (different from throwing yourself in the way and accidently handballing). It would tarnish any win for me.
I'd rather a tarnished win than no win at all. Not that I'd be ashamed anyway, for reasons I mentioned earlier.
If winning was everything, there would be no point in most people taking part. It's about testing yourself, seeking to improve, accepting both defeat and victory, getting and staying fit...the list goes on. The Olympics is just taking part for most contestants and, boy, are they enjoying themselves. I've met several people who have been involved as marshalls and they say how great the experience is, how happy and patient most people are...sport can also just be about joy. Having said that, I like GB medals as much as anyone.
Those are terrible examples I think when it comes down to getting into the semi-final of the world cup or not getting into the semi-final of the world cup, winning is pretty much the be all and end all. "Well lads, our world cup dream is over, but at least our bodies got exercise!" I'll let Luis handle how my reaction would be if someone said that: please log in to view this image
I'd rather lose with dignity than win in the manner of Uruguay even if it was a world cup semi-final, but that's just a personal preference and I'm sure others may agree and while others will disagree.
If you're saying that if you were in his exact situation and you wouldn't have done the same thing, then you're either lying to us or lying to yourself. It's nice to think that we'd be holier than thou in a real life situation, but you just wouldn't.
They played a very good game as well by the way. Ghana had the chance to win it and missed the penalty. Tough titties for them.
If most people considered deliberate handballing completely acceptable, we would see far more of it. The fact that it is rare demononstrates that most footballers play within the rules.
They avoid doing it because of the punishment they would receive. Suarez did it because it was seconds from the end of the game, and it was a sacrifice which won his team the game. Any player would have done it.
That's a very good point, I am however speaking as a football fan rather than as a hypothetical footballer. I like the teams I support to have a certain degree of respectability and dignity. For example if I was a Leeds fan in the 70s when they were winning everything but (apparently) playing really violent football, I'd be ashamed of the manner of how we won even if I did enjoy the fact that we won. It's like I'm sure you wouldn't be too happy if Saints started playing hoof-ball even if it got you results, would you?
I don't know - I'd rather win the league playing hoofball than go down playing it pretty. Either way it's different - the idea of a team having a degree of respectability and dignity can't be judged by one isolated incident like the Suarez case.
I know we all are supposed to appreciate football being played The Southampton Way, and I always have, but I've also always said that if it took a series of 1-0 wins throughout the season to win the league, over playing fluffy passing football and getting beaten regularly, I'd take the 1-0s every time.
