Ghana Fans Seek ‘Revenge’ On Uruguay’s Luis Suarez In World Cup 2022 Grudge Match

Depending on who you ask, it was either a moment of desperate inspiration or callous cheating.

It was the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and the final moments of extra-time in the quarter-final between Ghana and Uruguay. The score was 1-1. Ghana, aiming to become the first African team to make the final four, pushed for a winning goal.

There was a goalmouth scramble and a Ghana player headed the ball towards goal. As it was about to cross the line, Uruguay forward Luis Suarez kept the ball out with his hands.

It is arguably the most controversial handball at a World Cup finals since Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” in 1986. The difference, however, is Suarez was punished for his foul play.

Ghana was awarded a penalty and Suarez was sent off for denying a certain goal. Asamoah Gyan stepped forward to take the penalty. And blasted the ball off the bar.

On the sidelines, the dismissed Suarez celebrated as if Uruguay had just scored the winning goal.

The match entered penalties and a shell-shocked Ghana lost. Uruguay advanced to the semi-final and Suarez, though he would be suspended for the match, was ultimately rewarded for his handball. His decision had been justified.

On Friday, Ghana and Uruguay meet for the first time since that dramatic match in Johannesburg. The World Cup throws up these sorts of rivalries. Neighbors Wales and England were drawn together at this finals, and so too Switzerland and Serbia, which have a rivalry based on more complicated historical reasons.

When the draw was made for the 2022 World Cup finals, the pairing of Ghana and Uruguay in Group H stirred memories of 2010 and Suarez’s handball. Now they rekindle their rivalry knowing one will likely knock the other out of the tournament.

Uruguay has disappointed in its opening two matches and must win to stand a chance of reaching the Round of 16. For Ghana, a draw may be enough but a win will secure progress to the knockout round.

Ahead of the match, current players have played down talk of “revenge”. Andre Ayew is the only member of the current Ghana squad who was also at the 2010 World Cup.

“It’s not about revenge. Whether it was, or not, we’ll go with the same determination and same desire to win because we want to reach the next stage. I don’t think Ghana has forgiven Luis Suarez. But for me, it’s football. He took a decision. There’s nothing to speak about,” he said, as reported by The Mirror.

Suarez, who has been involved in other controversial moments at the World Cup, has refused to apologise.

“The Ghana player missed the penalty, not me,” he said at the pre-match press conference.

“I don’t apologise for it. I apologise if I injure a player but I took a red card for the handball. It wasn’t my fault because I didn’t miss the penalty.”

Former Ghana midfielder Ibrahim Ayew, who was a substitute for the quarter-final, says, 12 years on, the country hasn’t forgiven Suarez. Some Ghana fans feel the same way.

“The whole of Ghana hates him and the whole of Africa hates him,” he told The Athletic.

“We hate him. And we want revenge.”

Suarez, 35, is almost certainly playing his final World Cup. But he remains as fierce a competitor as he always was. At times in his career, he has seemed to relish playing the villain, the target of the wrath of the crowd.

If he is given the chance to break the hearts of Ghana fans again, he will probably take it.