Quote:
Originally Posted by Regorium
Great post.
I'd just say the controversy only exists because Ghana failed to capitalize rather than the timing at all. Had they converted the kick, it'd be a non-issue. The fact of the matter is that the penalty WAS called, unlike many of the other instances in the tournament, which includes dives, handballs, non-offsides, offsides, goals not being seen, etc.
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While the proper call(s) were made regarding the handball, the biggest question is whether the penalty and red card are sufficient. A defender can get a red card and a penalty awarded when a clear goal scoring opportunity has been prevented. This situation was different simply because a clear goal was prevented, not just the opportunity to score one. According to former World Cup referee Graham Poll,
"The clause in the law under which Suarez was dismissed was the denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. The problem is that Ghana were denied a goal, not just the opportunity to score one. A penalty-goal in these circumstances would be appropriate." While some argued Suarez acted instinctively, Poll said that should not affect the punishment against his team. "If that is true then awarding a penalty-goal and a yellow card seems more appropriate. Then the wronged team would not be denied a goal and the instinctive act less harshly punished."The denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity was seen in the Paraguay-Spain quarter-final, when Antolin Alcaraz brought down David Villa. No striker converts every chance, so awarding a penalty seems fair. Referee Carlos Batres failed to dismiss the Paraguay defender, but it was only an opportunity denied and not a certain goal."
While the proper call was made on the Suarez handball, it highlights that the rule itself may be in need of a thorough re-evaluation.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-c...739?ver=global
However, FIFA was been reluctant at the very least to introduce legislation or technology that will help prevent blatant cheating from proliferating.