Luis Suarez insists Gyan not him to blame for 2010 handball incident

Exactly 12-years after his deliberate handball denied Ghana what would have been a historic semi-final spot at the 2010 World Cup, Uruguay forward Luis Suarez is unapologetic about his action at the Soccer City.

Ahead of the crucial 2022 FIFA World Cup final group game between Uruguay and Ghana on Friday, Suarez has insisted he had no reason to apologize for the handball incident that denied the Black Stars a semi-final place at the 2010 World Cup.

Suarez bared his mind on the incident after a Ghanian Journalist raised the topic during Thursday’s press conference ahead of Uruguay’s final Group H clash with Ghana.

The reporter said that people in Ghana regard him as ‘the devil himself’ and that they look forward to retiring him on Friday.

Suarez responded to the comment by saying: ‘The first time, I don’t need to apologize. I’d apologize if I injured a player, but in this situation, I handled the ball, I take a red card and the Ghana player missed the penalty. It’s not my fault. I didn’t miss the penalty. It’s not my responsibility.”

That was in the dying minutes of extra-time, Dominic Adiyiah’s effort from a John Paintsil freekick was goal bound but Suarez used his hand to stop the ball from going in after goalkeeper Fernando Muslera was well beaten.

Suarez was rightly given his marching orders, but Asamoah Gyan missed the resultant penalty and Uruguay then triumphed 4-2 in the penalty shootout that followed.

12 years on, that incident will dominate previews and commentaries when both countries lock horns in Qatar.

A win for Ghana will be enough to send the Black Stars into the Round of 16 while Uruguay will be eliminated.

Portugal are top of the standings in that Group with six points, followed by Ghana with two points. Uruguay occupy third place with one point same as South Korea.