Hand Of God

Keeping your hands off the ball may be the most basic rule in soccer, but history was written by breaking this rule! History termed a foul play in 22 June 1986 by the legendary 'Diego Maradona' as 'Hand of God'.

It was a quarter final match between Argentina and England in the Soccer World cup after the infamous Falklands War. Maradona broke the hearts of the English in the 51st minute with a illegal hand goal which went unpunished into the books of history.

The goal was soon followed by the Goal of the century where the legend ghosted through 6 English defenders to give Argentina a perfect lead. Argentina went on to win the match and the world cup with Maradona winning the Golden ball for the player of the tournament.

In 8 November 2009, France needed a helping hand of Thierry Henry to qualify for the World cup 2010. It was a crucial world cup qualification match between France and Ireland.

The foul play by Henry destroyed the Irish dreams booking a berth for France in the World cup. Henry used his hand to stop and control the ball before passing it to William Gallas who headed the ball into the nets in the extra time. The incident was christened the "Hand of Frog" by the Dublin tabloids.

Ireland begged for foul in the deaf ears of FIFA for a rematch which was rejected.

Maradona and Henry used their hands to put the ball into the Nets. Those who think Hand of God only scores, think again.

2 June 2010, the dark continent was shaken in tears. African exodus of the world cup was completed by the hands of Luis Suarez.

Uruguay stormed into the semi-finals in the ongoing world cup with blocking hands of Suarez. Dominic Adiyiah of Ghana in the dying seconds of extra-time headed a perfected ball on target which was pushed back by Suarez with hands. A red card and a penalty followed which couldn't help Ghana to go ahead. Ghana, the last standing team of Africa with the entire continent behind them, bowed out of the world cup in the penalty shootout.

Ghana becomes the 3rd African country to reach the quarter finals after Cameroon and Senegal. They can now proudly say that they were the best from Africa till time since they survived till the shoot out of the quarter finals, the longest run by an African Nation. But the Hand of God denied them a chance to the semis.

But one question still remains in the sporting world.

Are these guys Maradona, Henry and Suarez Heros or Villains?

I would vote them for Heros!