Cheaters never prosper, till they do

It was a sad day in African Sport on Friday night. The Black Stars of Ghana were attempting to become the first African nation in history to progress to the world cup semi final. And deserve it, they did! Ghana took the lead through villain incumbent Sulley Muntari, who had already been sent home for misbehaviour, firing in a long range goal that left the U-R-Gay keeper floundering. Diego "once forlorn" Forlan returned the favour with a free kick of true beauty.

The game ebbed and flowed and looked destined for a penalty shootout, however not without controversy. Ghana had a long throw in, a shot was cleared off the line before Luis "I'm a cheating @*#$" Suarez decided to cheat. Yes there are those that say he did what he had to, but that doesn't mean he didn't cheat. Were these not the same people who condemned Thierry Henry for using his hand to qualify for the world cup. Suarez was lauded as a national hero, he has self proclaimed he is the new hand of God and U-R-Gay remain in the world cup, into the semi finals for the first time in 44 years.

Now you may wonder what my complaint is. This is it, that was not the hand of God, for God is not a cheat, it was the hand of Satan.

Footballers are heroes to little children all around the world. should we not be setting a positive example to children, should fairplay not be practised, should cheaters not face sanctions? Sure some may say it is just a sport, but unfortunately its not. Football is a business, for some its even life.

The World Cup has been amazing, but has also shown us that cheating is now very much a quintessential part of the not so beautiful game! Diving has been taken to new levels with Suarez, Ronaldo and dare i say it Steven Gerrard all aiming to perfect the art of the Swallow dive!

You see, the problem is not in the cheating, its in the punishment, its in the rules. If i was arrested for murder, yet only received a R10 fine, we would say the punishment and crime don't match.

So what do i propose? well surely a change to the laws is the way to do this? Here are some of my suggestions:

• technology - please Mr Blatter, please bring technology in


• Diving - why not have a post match citing commission (like rugby) where we punish those who have cheated and give them a few games ban. surely this would lead to it stopping


• on line cheating - Red card can stay, put the player has denied a goal, not a goal scoring opportunity, for the punishment to match the crime, a goal should be given (much like a penalty try)


• Abuse of Refs - do the hockey thing, you speak to the ref (and you not the captain), you get carded. DONE!

So until next time, keep it honest rather than keeping it real

JABU