Ghana should partner FIFA for new rule

The 2010 FIFA football World Cup on the whole had been successful. By the end of the world cup, FIFA awarded South Africa the host nation a refreshing mark of nine out of ten. The country probably would have scored ten out of ten if the initial threats to security by criminal elements were averted. As we may recall, there were burglaries had cameras of media reporters from the BBC of the United Kingdom, NHK of Japan and TVNZ of New Zealand, stolen from rooms of their FIFA recommended hotels.

It is surprising because the hotels had security personnel, security cameras and high security fence walls but could not prevent the criminals from breaking into the hotel rooms. South Africa also massively marshalled security personnel throughout the games to safeguard the security of both players and visitors. Unfortunately, as successful as the high security presence was, could not totally prevent such incidents from occurring.

By the end of the world cup it was a well deserved victory for Spain because they played graciously and were among the favourites destined to win the cup. Everyone the world over agreed the better side during the finals became the world champions.

The Netherlands could have done themselves a lot of good if they had played the clean football they were noted for. Instead, allowed themselves to be overwhelmed by desperation and resorted to kickboxing, which certain journalists have described as thugs other than the playing of football.

In order not to diminish the essence of the appeal I will be making, l wish to refrain from dwelling on the issues before and after the tournament. I would therefore focus on exploring the lows during the games so as to expose weaknesses in the rules of the game in a bid to finding the best remedies into the future.

Surprisingly, we witnessed a stale phenomenon by which grandeur football wits like Messi, Ronaldo, Rooney, Torres, with few exceptions did not impress at the World Cup. The skill and sportsmanship exhibited by players also makes watching the game worthwhile.

It is worth noting the crucial role referees and referee assistants play in a match. Most importantly, as would be expected for any sport to be close to flawless it does require an application of the right rules to meet the dynamism of the sport from time to time.

It is true that there have been some modifications in the football rules by the FIFA football world governing body in the past, making the sport to be most admired. There is no doubt that football will require another review before the 2014 World Cup as was witnessed by the lapses in officiating during the just ended world cup.

James Pearce, the BBC reporter at the world cup wanted to know from a colleague what was the defining moment of this World Cup. "Exactly, just what I was thinking." He rightly said, it was how Ghana was "robbed" of the semi-final slot because the Uruguay player Luis Suarez had turned himself into a goalkeeper as he pushed the ball that had already crossed the goal line out from the goal post. He received a piecemeal of a red card. Ghana therefore, was not awarded a goal but a token gamble of a penalty kick soon the rest was a cruel history.

By the dubious exploits Uruguay became fourth at the world cup. In any case they would not have had the chance of another match after the quarter-finals since they would have lost 2-1 to Ghana, confirming a earlier vision I had before the match.

Probably, even Paul the German "Psychic" Octopus would have predicted a similar outcome of a Ghana win. It is unprecedented when Suarez after the match said he was sometimes trains as a goalkeeper. This was another lie when everyone knows he is a striker and not even a defender.

By the end of the first round FIFA admitted refereeing was not spot on. What immediately came to my mind was the England goal against Germany that was not allowed because the referee and his assistants did not see the ball by Frank Lampard crossed the goal line. Of course just as Ghana's second goal against Uruguay also did cross the goal line before it was pushed out by the hand of a player, these were among the faulty decisions made by match officials.

Although, FIFA President Blatter had been previously against the use of goal line technology/video replay in football. Also was initially vehemently opposed to considering it during this World Cup but there was a sudden change of heart after those critical lapses in judgement had occurred. Just about three days before the finals there was a sigh of relief when Jerome Valcke, a FIFA General Secretary revealed to journalists that things will change before the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

This in effect will mean the possible use of a German innovation which introduces a chip into a football and helps to determine balls that cross the goal line. Hence, referees will be able to make accurate decisions. So that spectators can enjoy football matches better.

In as much as the above will help in the case of England against Germany, it only partially solves the problem about the Ghana goal. The ball did not just cross the goal line but was consciously pushed from goal with the hands by a striker. It has since become the anti-climax dampening the interest of many a passionate football enthusiasts particularly, in the World Cup.

We all saw how unprecedented and the bad face of football when the Uruguay striker Luis Suarez, a well known international player for Ajax in the Netherlands turned himself into a dummy goalkeeper and pushed the ball headed by Adiyiah with both hands out of the goal post. It might not have been the case but considering the high stakes of the game, certain unscrupulous players take excessive risk by putting their character on the line to do what is unthinkable and unsportsmanlike. This must be stopped.

Clearly, it was a deliberate act considering the extent of jubilation in the end as team mates lifted Suarez shoulder high after the match. He did not show any remorse neither did his coach Oscar Tabarez. Suarez intimated later on that he sometimes trains as a goalkeeper. And sarcastically said, his was the real "Hand of God" apparently but obnoxiously comparing himself to the shameful act of Diego Maradona in 1986.

It was against this background of Maradona that explains why even as coach, there were virulent verbal exchanges between supporters of Argentina and Germany prior to the World Cup encounter of the two teams. Germans therefore were bent on a decisive victory over Argentina. German anger emanates from the fact that Argentina was being coached by Maradona and at the end of the game Germany had thrashed Argentina 4-1.

The unethical ball handling by players in football is not new. It is judged as accidental, deliberate or mixed depending on individual sentiments of the observer. In most instances it is apprehended by referees awarding spot-kicks and penalty for such fouls. The Portuguese referee Benquerenca awarded Ghana a token penalty instead of a goal. We cannot fault him as that is what is currently in the books of FIFA. Some players are lucky and get away with it. When this happens players who have done it consciously, often in order to gain the upper hand over their opponents.

More often than not when such culprits get away with it, they tend to privately face their own demons alone. As were in the cases Diego Maradona's goal that won Argentina the World Cup in 1986 and controversial hand of Thierry Henry which made France to qualify for the 2010 World Cup over Ireland.

Could this have been the reason why Henry was not allowed by coach Domenech to play in the opening matches at the World Cup? Subsequently, confusion brewed in the French camp causing France to crash out of the games and Anelka leaving the games prematurely. Thierry Henry has since the end of the World Cup announced his retirement from football. Maradona after illegally winning the World Cup had the world point fingers at him which probably made him suffer from depression and even do drugs.

So let us consider the absurd use of the hands by Suarez in the goal post during the Uruguay match against Ghana. I wish to caution that it is as serious as it could be, and far from a cry over spilt milk. Within the existing rules, even when applied to the full only offered Ghana a fifty, fifty chance. There were not enough sanctions available within the existing rules and disciplinary codes of FIFA to deter a player from taking such a risk.

This was probably why the player did what he did and in the process broke the hearts of all Africans and well meaning football funs around the world. A good friend of mine, Kiwi Pete from far away New Zealand described what he saw that day as the best scam he had ever seen in any sport. For me personally, this issue is one of the most serious matters arising from the world cup especially, when a continent's hope is dashed in the manner it did.

To show they abhorred the scam, spectators booed Suarez in his next appearance at the games and continued to do so throughout the Uruguay - Germany match. It should have been hard on him considering the feeling he was playing against not only his opponents but also the 84,000 spectators at the Cape Town's Green Point stadium. This left the rather fine player to fumble throughout that game. He almost tried a penalty trick in the dying minutes of that match which did not work.

The only reason he was booed had been the lingering anger from his past cheating behaviour during the Ghana - Uruguay match and also to prevent him from playing another trick he had under his sleeves. Thus the final result 3-2 for Germany was again very close.

At best within the existing rules we all know a player could only be red carded and penalised for a foul in the Suarez episode to be followed by a spot kick or a penalty kick depending on where the infringement occurred. But today, this is not enough for this fast evolving sport. This is where my appeal to FIFA football's world governing body becomes relevant, also to CAF especially for Oppong Nyantekyi to make it a goal if elected into the body.

He could table a motion to demand FIFA's governing body to include a new and lasting rule into its disciplinary code that will stop players pretending to be goalkeepers at the World Cup and in football as a whole. This will stop the rot from creeping into football. The whole of Africa should lend a hand and let their voices be heard. It will be the single most important contribution the continent would have made to the sport.

So how does FIFA prevent this from happening in the future? To start with, FIFA should have "Fairplay, Fairplay, Fairplay" as slogan for three consecutive World Cups starting from 2014. Although, the slogan 'End to Racism' or 'Say No to Racism' was well thought out but in my view it was slightly misplaced since it should have better been left for the United Nations.

More importantly, a new rule should be instituted despite some may argue out the frequency of such circumstances re-occurring. This new rule could be called "Luis Rule or Gyan Rule" - An outright goal will be awarded for a ball bound for goal even if it is stopped by a own player that is, a 'dummy' goalkeeper, thus in his/her own half. A player who handles a ball bound for goal will be red carded, dismissed and will not play one to two matches. During a World Cup any individual (player) who handles a ball other than the goalkeeper will in addition be suspended/banned from playing overseas for three years.

To the Road Map is what Ghana can do is to support the above rule. As voluntary groups, Friends of Football Organisation (FOFO) gather signatures of all adults from schools, workers, churches, markets, etc. to be forwarded to FIFA headquarters FIFA-Strasse 20 in Zurich, Switzerland. It could also be done electronically, through social networking media and by free text messaging to numerous mobile phone companies already making huge gains in the country.

Under the slogan: I SUPPORT THE "GYAN RULE." It should involve people from all walks of life like voluntary organisations, with assistance from Ghana Football Association GFA, the sports ministry, Parliament, participation of media houses, trades unions, supporters unions and diasporas. The truth of the matter and what I believe is, no Ghanaian player will ever dream of doing the same thing in a similar situation. This fact was testified by Paintsil when he was interviewed by the BBC he said, a Ghanaian player will only attempt a header.

If this is done, it will demonstrate our passion for the sport especially when very large number signatures from friends of football (FOF) were gathered. About a quarter to about half the population of Ghanaians can sign up and make their voices be heard especially before 2012. At a time when another major decision of FIFA like, finalising the issue of adding two extra referee assistants to the game, currently being tested in Europe will be made. In due course we will be seeing five match officials instead of three during World Cup matches.

Also about rule, when implemented will be monumental to the legacy of the sport and Africa's contribution. Just as Sepp Blatter presided over the many reforms in football under his leadership spanning over a decade and a half. This have led to improvement in the rules of football and increased African participation culminating in his faith in the continent. He is credited to have brought the hosting of the "Beautiful Game" to Africa for the first time upon the request of Nelson Mandela.

The 2010 FIFA World Cup also set a few best records such as, the perennial under achievers like Spain became the eighth country to become Champions of the World Cup. South African were great hosts and have been left with at least five new world class stadiums.

The games have been a near hundred percent drugs free. The only undefeated country was the non-football nation of New Zealand. The youngest team of the world cup being Ghana and FIFA's short listing Andre Dede Ayew of Ghana among the young promising players won by Mueller. I have been fortunate to have watched all the matches of this World Cup and hope my interest will not wane after the event. Congratulations to the Black Stars.

Source: Doe, James W.

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