Uruguay's cheating talk 'shameful,' says coach

CAPE TOWN — Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez is tiring of the cheat bleats.

During his soccer team's pre-match 2010 FIFA World Cup semifinal media conference at Green Point Stadium, an hour before the Netherlands' scheduled appearance, the hot-button subject of striker Luis Suarez's blatant handball off the goal-line to deny Ghana a place in the semifinals was raised yet again.

It's an issue the African press simply cannot leave alone. A Johannesburg newspaper ran a 'You Cheat!' headline days after the fact, condemning Suarez and his supposed culpability in the continent's last remaining hope being shipped to the sidelines.

The fact that Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan muffed the subsequent penalty on the final kick of the 120 minutes that would've seen the Black Stars through to Tuesday's match against the Dutch seems to be a moot point here, completely lost in emotional knee-jerk righteous indignation.

"I'm embarrassed by what has been asked," Tabarez retorted. "That is shameful.

"It was an instinctive act. Suarez couldn't foresee what happened afterwards, that Ghana would miss the penalty. Don't talk to me about a lack of modesty. We are very proud and we're upset with this topic. We're proud of our performances and what we've contributed to the development of football at this World Cup.

"Uruguay went through almost three matches without a yellow card at all, so please don't tell me we're cheats."

2010-07-05

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