Red Handed

Not since Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" goal, has a handball so greatly affected a South American side. Like Maradona's infamous handball, this one also took place in the quarterfinals of the World Cup. Unlike Maradona's play, this handball prevented a goal instead of scoring one.

Luis Suarez' handball in stoppage time of the quarterfinal against Ghana may have been a mistake, may have been an accident, may have been just a reflex, but it was the reason Uruguay won the match. If Suarez does not bat the ball away with his hand, Ghana scores, wins, and advances, while Uruguay goes home.

Suarez was red carded, sent off, making him unable to be chosen for penalty kicks, and will miss the next match for the infraction. It will surely be bittersweet for Suarez to watch the semifinal match against the Netherlands from the sideline, but it beats the alternative, watching from anywhere else. Regardless of a win or a loss for Uruguay against the Netherlands, Suarez will get to play another game in the this World Cup.

While Maradona and Argentina went on to win the 1986 World Cup after the handball goal, it remains to be seen if Uruguay can do the same. Suarez' "Red Hand," will certainly be remembered as one of the few final key moments in an extraordinarily exciting Cup quarterfinal and will be immortalized in Uruguayan soccer lore, while deplored in Ghanaian legend. However, if Uruguay were to go on and win its 3rd World Cup, Suarez' handball would be to thank for that. The play would then surely go down as the single greatest stop to be made not by a goalkeeper and become one of those "where were you moments," like Kirk Gibson's home run or Michael Jordan's hanging jumper. So, Luis Suarez, whether you meant to or not, your handball earned you and Uruguay the best red card of all time.