World Cup 2010: Uruguay's Luis Suárez revels in second coming of Hand of God

Uruguay found themselves caught in a backlash at the World Cup on Saturday night after striker Luis Suárez crowed: The Hand of God now belongs to me, following his goal-line save against Ghana that helped steer the South American side into the semi-finals on Friday night.

His handball with the score at 1-1 gave Ghana a penalty in the last minute of extra-time but Asamoah Gyan sent his spot-kick crashing off the crossbar to give the Uruguayans a reprieve which they exploited by winning a penalty shoot-out.

Many of the 84,000-strong crowd were incensed as they saw Ghanas romantic dream of becoming the first African team to reach the semi-final shattered before witnessing Uruguay's Suárez being carried shoulder high from the pitch.

Suárez made matters worse by echoing Diego Maradonas triumphant boast after his handball goal downed England in 1986.

The Hand of God now belongs to me, he said. I made the best save of the tournament.

"There was no alternative for me. This was the end of the World Cup and when I saw Gyan miss the penalty it was a great joy. I thought it is a miracle. We were still alive.

"The way in which I was sent off today was worth it.

Fifa considered extending Suárezs one-match ban but, having reviewed the incident, it decided it did not merit more punishment, which means Suárez could still play in the World Cup final if Uruguay beat Holland in the semi-final in Cape Town on Tuesday.

Should Uruguay beat Holland and make it to next Sundays final, the return of Suárez might cause embar****ment for Fifa, as its fair play code states: Winning is without value if victory has been achieved unfairly or dishonestly. Cheating is easy, but brings no pleasure.

Fifa spokesman Pekka Odriozola said Fifas disciplinary code gave the committee the option of a longer ban for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Uruguayan officials were forced to defend themselves against accusations of cheating and cynicism by an angry host nation.

It is not fair to say we cheated our way to victory, protested Uruguay coach Óscar Tabárez.

It was instinctive. He misses the next game and has paid for the consequences.

But Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac described it as really shocking. A football injustice.

Those defending him insist Suárez did not cheat. It was, they claim, a natural impulse to push Dominic Adiyiahs point-blank header off the line.

Former Chelsea star and Uruguayan international Gus Poyet said: I was a little bit disappointed with some people talking about cheating that is complete rubbish. [What Suarez did] is taking one for the team. It is helping one country of 3.5 million people get to the semi-final for the first time in 40 years.

Gyan was adamant that Adiyiahs header had crossed the line before Portuguese referee Olegário Benquerenca awarded the spot kick.

The ball went in, it did cross the line, he said, despite video evidence to the contrary. If it was our day, the referee would have seen it and whistled as a goal.

I would say Suárez is a hero now in his own country, because the ball was going in and he held it with his hand. He is a hero now.

Source: Sunday Telegraph