With Uruguay set to take on Ghana in a tantalising 2022 FIFA World Cup clash on Friday, Luis Suarez has now insisted he was not to blame for the Black Stars' infamous exit when the two sides last met in 2010 in South Africa.
The two countries' last meeting at the tournament was full of controversy after Suarez deliberately prevented a last-minute goal-bound header with his hands in extra-time to deny the West Africans a clear goal.
Read: 'The whole of Ghana and Africa hates Suarez'
After the former Liverpool star received a red card for his action, Ghana centre-forward Asamoah Gyan failed to convert from the spot as his shot hit the bar in what was the final kick of the match.
The game moved on to penalties, and Ghana were devastatingly knocked out of the tournament after going down 4-2 in the shootout.
Various Ghanaian players, including Gyan, have expressed that the deliberate handball has haunted them since as they were denied a historic place in the semi-finals of the grand showpiece, where they would have become the first African team to reach that stage.
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Suarez, however, has seemingly shifted the blame to Gyan for not converting the resulting penalty following his handball.
Speaking in a press conference on Thursday afternoon, the 35-year-old said, per The Independent's Miguel Delaney: "The first time, I don't apologise about that.
"I take the handball – but the Ghana player miss a penalty, not me.
"Maybe I apologise if I injure a player but in this situation, I take a red card, the ref say penalty, it's not my fault."
"... It's 12 years ago. It's the past.
"I've played against [Giorgio] Chiellini [whom he bit at the 2014 World Cup] too, and we shook hands."
Read: France launch complaint to FIFA over controversial call against Tunisia
At the same presser, Uruguay head coach Diego Alonso was asked if he would be okay with Suarez committing a similar act on Friday.
"Every match is different... we just focus on being better than the rival team," he answered,
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