• Edinson Cavani, left, of Uruguay celebrates a goal with teammate Luis Suarez against Chile at the Maracana. The 1-0 win saw Uruguay progress to the quarter-finals as Group C winners, with Chile also advancing in second place. EPA
    Edinson Cavani, left, of Uruguay celebrates a goal with teammate Luis Suarez against Chile at the Maracana. The 1-0 win saw Uruguay progress to the quarter-finals as Group C winners, with Chile also advancing in second place. EPA
  • Edinson Cavani of Uruguay celebrates. EPA
    Edinson Cavani of Uruguay celebrates. EPA
  • Uruguay's Edinson Cavani is marked by Chile's Charles Aranguiz and Paulo Diaz. AFP
    Uruguay's Edinson Cavani is marked by Chile's Charles Aranguiz and Paulo Diaz. AFP
  • Edinson Cavani of Uruguay in action against Jara of Chile. EPA
    Edinson Cavani of Uruguay in action against Jara of Chile. EPA
  • A Uruguayan fan cheers for his team. EPA
    A Uruguayan fan cheers for his team. EPA
  • Edinson Cavani of Uruguay celebrates. EPA
    Edinson Cavani of Uruguay celebrates. EPA
  • A pitch invader runs on the field during the Copa America 2019 Group Cmatch between Chile and Uruguay, at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. EPA
    A pitch invader runs on the field during the Copa America 2019 Group Cmatch between Chile and Uruguay, at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. EPA
  • Fans of Uruguay celebrate at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. AFP
    Fans of Uruguay celebrate at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. AFP
  • Japan's Shoya Nakajima, centre, vies for the ball with Ecuador's Pedro Pablo Velasco. AFP
    Japan's Shoya Nakajima, centre, vies for the ball with Ecuador's Pedro Pablo Velasco. AFP
  • Japan's Shoya Nakajima, left, opened the scoring for Japan against Ecuador in the 15th minute at the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. AFP
    Japan's Shoya Nakajima, left, opened the scoring for Japan against Ecuador in the 15th minute at the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. AFP
  • Angel Mena of Ecuador celebrates a goal. EPA
    Angel Mena of Ecuador celebrates a goal. EPA
  • Angel Mena of Ecuador in action. EPA
    Angel Mena of Ecuador in action. EPA
  • Ecuador's Angel Mena, centre, is marked by Japan's Ayase Ueda. AFP
    Ecuador's Angel Mena, centre, is marked by Japan's Ayase Ueda. AFP
  • Venezuelan referee Jesus Valenzuela consults the VAR before disallowing a goal by Japan's Takefusa Kubo. AFP
    Venezuelan referee Jesus Valenzuela consults the VAR before disallowing a goal by Japan's Takefusa Kubo. AFP
  • Japan's Takefusa Kubo, centre, looks dejected after a 1-1 draw against Ecuador saw both teams exit the 2019 Copa America. AFP
    Japan's Takefusa Kubo, centre, looks dejected after a 1-1 draw against Ecuador saw both teams exit the 2019 Copa America. AFP
  • Japan's Takefusa Kubo and Ecuador's Cristian Ramirez vie for the ball. AFP
    Japan's Takefusa Kubo and Ecuador's Cristian Ramirez vie for the ball. AFP

Rapscallion Luis Suarez tries to claim a penalty for handball ... after Chile goalkeeper makes a save


John McAuley
  • English
  • Arabic

It has long been on of football’s great truths that Luis Suarez would do almost anything to win.

He has even admitted as much in the past. Go over a little too easily? There’s plenty of evidence to suggest that. Feign injury to con the referee and gain an unwarranted advantage? If the opportunity arises, seemingly.

Not this past season, Suarez drew the ire of Liverpool supporters when he did what these days is wildly considered anathema to football's Great Moral Code: he celebrated scoring for Barcelona, against his former club. The cheek.

Then there is the infamous biting – multiple cases – and the other regrettable transgressions.

But on Monday night, Suarez provided yet another example of his unshakeable will to win; that determination to eke out whatever is required to get one over his opponents.

In Uruguay's Copa America Group C clash with Chile, Suarez first appeared to appeal for a penalty when rival goalkeeper Gabriel Arias blocked a shot with his arm … inside his own six-yard box.

Then later, when a pitch invader was stopped in his tracks by a sly trip from Chile’s Gonzalo Jara, Suarez set off towards the referee, seemingly screaming for a card to be brandished. That the intruder was sporting a chicken’s head only added to the peculiarity of it all.

The match finished 1-0 to Uruguay, by the way. But no doubt it should be forever remembered for Suarez's double dupe.