Quote:
Originally Posted by NBC
In rugby (union) the referee can award a penalty try for certain offenses such as collapsing the scrum.
Personally, since spot-kicks are always a crap-shoot, I'd like to see the goal awarded plus the red card. The word they use over here is 'cynical'. If a challenge is cynical, then it typically leads to a red card. If there is a deliberate attempt with ones hands to prevent the ball from entering the goal, then the goal should be given and the player automatically sent off.
Players will make this choice 100 times out of 100. You prevent the goal and take your chances with the spot-kick, especially if it is at the end of a match. There was zero real consequence for Suarez - I don't believe that him missing the semi-final is consequence enough as Uruguay were by no means guaranteed to win the shootout.
At the end of the day a goal was prevented from being scored and the offending team ended up winning a match that one player had to cheat to ensure they wouldn't lose then and there. Sure Gyan could have scored the penalty, but in reality they did 'score' with the headed goal that Suarez batted down. Surely there is something wrong with that.
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I would argue that a penalty and a red card early in the game is even more punishment than allowing a goal. The team absolutely becomes useless with 10 men. With 11 men you can comeback from a goal down. Even if the penalty is missed, you can't do much with 10 men. Suarez would never do that earlier in the game.
I think the rule is fine. Red card, penalty, suspension is a heavy penalty. The fact that it was in the 120 minute made it unique and perhaps unfair.
Take hockey as an example. Overtime in the playoffs. Scramble in front of the net, goalie out of position. The puck is trickling over the line and defenseman grabs it and throws it out. What does the attacking team get? A penalty shot, that's it.