JOHANNESBURG: Shamed Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez received a one-match ban on Saturday for his handball against Ghana, meaning he could still play in the World Cup final if his countrymen can see off Holland in the semi-final.

FIFA`s discipinary commission ruled the ban should be just for one game after the Ajax star, who has scored three goals at the finals, was shown a straight red card for the illegal goal-line clearance which kept out Ghanaian substitute Dominic Adiyah`s header in Friday`s quarter-final.

The offence resulted in a penalty in the last minute of extra-time but Asamoah Gyan sent his spotkick crashing off the crossbar to give the Uruguayans a reprieve which they exploited by prevailing 4-2 in the shoot-out which followed.

"This was the end of the World Cup. I had no choice. I have the `Hand of God` now," said Suarez, referring to Diego Maradona`s infamous description of a goal he scored with his hand against England in the 1986 World Cup.

BDST: 1216hrs, July 4, 2010