World Cup 2022: Ghana Boss Otto Addo Weighs In on Luis Suarez’s Handball vs Black Stars in 2010

• Otto Addo has opened up on the Luis Suarez handball incident in the 2010 World Cup
• Ghana's coach said Suarez did what he had to and he expects the same from his team
• The Black Stars meet Uruguay for the first time since that incident, with much at stake

Ghana head coach Otto Addo has defended Luis Suarez's handball versus Ghana, in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

The Uruguay striker stopped the ball from going into the net with his hands, then saw red as the Black Stars were awarded the penalty. Shockingly, Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan missed from the spot.

The match still went to penalties after it ended 1-1 after extra time. The South Americans went on to win the shootout, which eliminated the Africans from the tournament in the quarter-final.

The handball by Suarez remains the most infamous moment in the history of the World Cup. Ghana fans have always seen the former Liverpool and Barcelona striker as the pantomime villain.

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In the 2020 World Cup, they were grouped together and meet on Friday, December 2, for the first time since the incident.

Addo defends Suarez

Speaking ahead of their match on Friday, Addo said any player would've done what Suarez did to fight for their country.

“For me, it's not a big topic. This is what I wish from every player, to do all he can to help his team qualify - sometimes even sacrificing himself with a red card."

As a Black Stars fan, Addo said he was nevertheless heartbroken when his country went out of the tournament.

“It was a very sad day for me; I watched it and I was sad, but this is my perspective," he said according to the Sun.

Diego Alonso's side are winless in their two games, and must beat Ghana if they're to have any chance of reaching the last 16.

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A win will be enough to see Ghana go through to the next round, according to the Guardian.

Gyan on the Suarez handball

Sports Brief earlier reported on Asamoah Gyan defending Suarez for handling the ball against Ghana in the 2010 World Cup.

Gyan has said that although the pain of missing that penalty against Uruguay in the 2010 World Cup still haunts him, he acknowledged that Suarez did what he had to do to help his country.

Ghana played Uruguay in the quarter-final of the 2010 edition in Johannesburg, a match that will go down as the most dramatic in World Cup history.

During the match, a header from Dominic Adiyiah - destined to go in - was spectacularly stopped by Luis Suarez with his hands deep into injury time.