PORTUGAL’S stars were forced to PROTECT the spot while the referee had to reach AROUND fuming Luis Suarez’s head to award a penalty against Uruguay.
The incident occurred during the final seconds of Portugal’s 2-0 World Cup win over Uruguay as VAR intervened for a penalty check.
Fernandes carried the ball into the box and sent Jose Maria Gimenez tumbling backwards as he nutmegged the defender.
The Uruguayan unintentionally handled the ball as he fell to the ground.
The referee waved play on, despite the protests of Fernandes, before VAR got in his ear to advise him to check the incident.
Iranian Alireza Faghani headed over to the pitchside monitor, but the quick-thinking Portuguese players headed straight to the penalty spot.
A Uruguayan appeared to have scuffed the turf already, but several Portugal players began flattening the turf before standing guard around the white paint to prevent any more dirty tactics.
Having watched the footage, Faghani then confirmed that it was a spot-kick but he was confronted by the irate Suarez.
The veteran striker then attempted to try and stop the penalty from being awarded by blocking the referee’s arm with his HEAD.
However, even that innovative manoeuvre failed to have any impact on Fernandes as he hopped, skipped and jumped before rifling home.
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That was his second of the game, although Cristiano Ronaldo is trying to claim he got a touch on his first, and sealed his country’s place in the last-16 with a game to spare.
Meanwhile, Suarez and his teammates will now have to face a Ghana side intent on revenge in their final group game.
Ghana sit second on four points from two games after the win over South Korea earlier.
But Uruguay, who have one from their two outings so far, can overtake them with a win.
