Angry Tabarez: Uruguay not handed semi spot
Reuters - Monday 05 July 2010, 18:38
CAPE TOWN - Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez
has reacted angrily to suggestions that his team do not deserve
their World Cup semi-final place after Luis Suarez's handball in
their quarter-final against Ghana.
"This question is disgraceful," he replied after being asked
during a news conference if Uruguay were embarrassed about the
incident in which Suarez handled on the line and stopped a
certain Ghana winner in the last minute of extra-time.
Suarez was sent off but Ghana missed their penalty on
Friday, the match finished 1-1 and Uruguay won the shootout.
"We are proud of what we have achieved in this World Cup and
the way we have overcome the difficulties we have faced, not
just because of the way we have played but also because of our
behaviour," said Tabarez.
"Uruguay played for more than two games without receiving a
yellow card so don't come to me and say that we're a team who
cheat, I don't accept that at any time."
SENT OFF
Tabarez said that Ghana were awarded a penalty and Suarez
sent off, as stipulated by the rules
"They are speculating about something which can happen and
has happened in other matches and which is covered by the
rules," he said.
"In the 1990 World Cup, we were victims of a similar
incident in a match against Spain, and on that occasion the
player was not even sent off."
"What I find disgraceful is the scandal that has been
created around this incident by some journalists, in particular
English ones - I don't know why."
Tabarez also refused to criticise Netherlands forward Arjen
Robben for his alleged theatricals.
"Like any other player, he gets knocked and he has
cheekiness. I wouldn't been as drastic to say that what he does
is disgraceful or is cheating," he said.
"That's what we have the referee for, he's the only one who
can interpret the player's intentions, and decide the
consequences."
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