Audio By Carbonatix
Former World Cup referee Graham Poll has said FIFA should consider introducing penalty-goals after Luis Suarez's handball prevented a last-gasp goal against Uruguay and in so doing denied Ghana a certain semi-final place.
"The officials got it spot on, dismissing Suarez and awarding a penalty, but that gave Uruguay a lifeline they did not deserve," Poll wrote in the Daily Mail. "Referee Olegario Benquerenca would have been relieved to spot the handball, but in the dressing room afterwards his team would have discussed the sense of injustice.
"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."
Source: ESPN
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
White House bars CNN from travelling with Trump on Air Force One
4 minutes -
Fennis wins second consecutive ITF J60 title in Accra
8 minutes -
Spain beat England in thriller after Kane penalty miss
14 minutes -
GPL 2026/27: Zaidan’s late goal ends Hearts of Oak unbeaten start
17 minutes -
CEOs demand clarity on pay harmonisation, board autonomy as FWSC engages SOEs bosses over IPEC transition
20 minutes -
2026 Women’s Super Cup: FC Savannah, Epiphany Warriors maintain top spots ahead of final group games
29 minutes -
‘Is EOCO responsible for determining lawyers’ fees?’ – Baffour Awuah
30 minutes -
David Beckles claims second J60 Accra title
56 minutes -
No France cocaine suspect linked to Mahama, Vice President’s security details – NACOC
1 hour -
Anwelle Foundation launched in Jirapa to tackle poverty, youth unemployment
1 hour -
Joy Sports Editor Fentuo Tahiru Fentuo to moderate inaugural Music Meets Football Summit in Zambia
1 hour -
Court premises too volatile for Baffour Awuah’s attempted arrest by EOCO – Inusah Fuseini
2 hours -
Drug bust: Under no circumstances will NACOC leadership be compromised – Twum-Barimah
2 hours -
VIDEO: EOCO’s attempted arrest of Baffour Awuah was flawed beyond saving – Law Lecturer
2 hours -
Genuine Ghanaian exporters may face heightened foreign inspections over drug busts – Lawyer
2 hours