Is this example of a "tactical foul" in soccer wrong?

[Alfred001]

I was reading this interesting article about the ethics of so called "tactical fouls" in sports and the article brings up one specific example from the 2010 soccer World Cup quarter final in which Uruguay is about to concede a goal that would eliminate them from the World Cup and, in a last ditch attempt to stop it, Luis Suarez (who is not a goal keeper and therefore not permitted to handle the ball) very blatantly reaches his hands out and stops the ball.

His calculation was that this was the end of extra time and the penalty for handling the ball blatantly like that (a red card and being sent off out of the game) was far lesser than the downside of conceding the goal, which would have meant Uruguay's elimination from the WC. And, importantly, because this was the end of extra time, Uruguay didn't even have to suffer the normally severe penalty of a red card, which means playing the rest of the game with one player less - the game was over anyway. There was basically no downside.

Was this wrong to do? Would you have done it?

[MigL]

I thought you were going to ask about the incident where Suarez bit Chellini ( Italian defender ).

Suarez may be a good player , but he lacks ethics and sportsmanship.

[Prometheus]

12 hours ago, Alfred001 said:

And, importantly, because this was the end of extra time, Uruguay didn't even have to suffer the normally severe penalty of a red card, which means playing the rest of the game with one player less - the game was over anyway. There was basically no downside.

Ghana were awarded a penalty, which they missed. The game then went to penalties and Suarez, who was one of their main penalty takers, couldn't take one, so there were plenty of downsides, Ghana were just unable to capitalise on them. Additionally, Suarez was banned from the semi-final against the Dutch, which Uruguay lost.

As to whether it's right - i can see both sides, but seeing Suarez celebrate the penalty miss was pretty galling.

 

[dimreepr]

4 hours ago, Prometheus said:

As to whether it's right - i can see both sides, but seeing Suarez celebrate the penalty miss was pretty galling.

There in lies the problem, he wasn't seen to be punished. we can only imagine what he might suffer... 

And even that suffering, if Germain, is equal; we struggle too find retribution...

[Peterkin]

19 hours ago, Alfred001 said:

Was this wrong to do?

yes

19 hours ago, Alfred001 said:

Would you have done it?

no

The underlying problem is international sport competition. It's a business - big stakes, big rewards, big risk; all very expensive and high pressure.

If you like playing a game, play it according to the rules, for the fun, friendship, exercise, status among your cohort, showing off to potential sexual partners.... 

If you can't play it as a game, don't.

[swansont]

We have ethics for when we expect people to self-police, and others involved to make sure people toe the line.

In sports we have referees, because ethics don’t enter into it. If you foul someone, there is a penalty. You have to decide if it’s worth it. The sport makes the penalties harsher in certain situations to reduce the incentive to foul.