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Sepp Blatter Wants NO More Penalty Shootout in World Cup Final

- Rematch or playing till the "golden goal" would be the other solution

By: Ovidiu Panzariu, Sports Editor

Sepp Blatter is considering changing the rules of football one more time. After the FIFA president blasted "divers" and "cheaters" at the last World Cup in Germany, the

European refereeing body made some changes in pitch-regulations for the new season. Now, Blatter wants to change the format of the World Cup final.

As for the FIFA official, when being even on the pitch, the winning team should not be decided after the penalty shootout. Sepp Blatter also gives the solution: whether the match will be decided on "golden goal", or there will be a rematch.

"We have 4 years to set up a new format, so there’s plenty of time. The best solution would be a rematch of the final. We can only use that for the final of the competition, wince the other stages in a World Cup depend on time. Another solution would be lowering the number of players on the pitch and play until the first goal", said Blatter.

He also explained his desire to change the format of the World Cup final. "When you play a World Cup final, it’s all about passion and desire. When you go into extra-time, we’re talking about drama. But when we reach the penalty shootout, it’s a tragedy. Football is a team game, while the penalty shootout is all about the individual", concluded the FIFA president.

Two of the last 4 World Cup finals went down on penalty shootout. Brazil won the 1994 tournament in the United States after knocking out Italy in the final. Only 12 years later, Italy avenged their US failure and beat France 6-4 (1-1 after 120 minutes) to clinch the World title.

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Sepp Blatter Wants NO More Penalty Shootout in World Cup Final - USER OPINIONS

Comment #1 by JohnDenley on 2007-06-27, 03:51 GMT	reply to this comment
I have been trying to get FIFA (and therefore the IFAB) to take a look at my suggested alternative to penalties for months now, but have had no response, interesting to see this "idea" from Mr Blatter about removing players until we have a result. Im sure im not the only person who has thought of it, but I have emailed several times with my ideas and thoughts on this subject, with no real response! I have good arguements and suggestions to all objections that I have heard so far, other than the slightly narrowminded "we like penalties because its exciting"....

Comment #2 by JohnDenley on 2007-06-27, 04:09 GMT	reply to this comment
Actually to clarify my proposal, which may generate some further discussion on this issue, here it is: At the end of 90 minutes instead of playing an additional 30mins of extra time, we play 15 mins of 9v9 and then 15 mins of 7v7. Or if you prefer 3x10 min periods of 10v10, 9v9 and 8v8. THEN you have played 120 minutes and you have almost certainly got a result (see masters or 5-a-side football)! This is the point at which normally you would start penalties, in my proposal, if you are still drawn then you keep playing 15 min(or 10 min) periods removing 2 (or 1) players at the end of each period if it is still drawn. The issue of which players to take off first is up to the coaches and would indeed make an interesting debate, but if they dont tell the 4th official which to take off before the end of each extra period, then the 4th official automatically takes off the lowest numbered player on the pitch, excluding the goalkeeper. A lot of people would also argue that this isnt "football" anymore, but then how is settling the beautiful game with penalties any better....

Comment #3 by ypsilon on 2008-06-02, 17:52 GMT	reply to this comment
There is a good and simple solution to the Penalty shoot-out problem which keeps the excitement, avoids a draw and makes the players play to win until the final whistle. Here it is. At the end of a drawn cup game. 1. Immediately hold a penalty shoot out until one team gets a penalty goal ahead after an even number of attempts. 2. Play extra time but starting with the score 1-0 to the team who won the shoot-out. 3. Count any goal scored during extra time as a double goal (like an away goal in two leg matches) Example End of game England 0 Germany 0 Shoot-out Germany get one goal ahead after 5 attampts each Extra time. Germany score (making it 3-0 to them) England score (making it 3-2 to Germany) England score again in the last minute of extra time. Final score Germany 3 - England 4. (Well I am English!!) YOU ALWAYS GET A RESULT. THERE IS STILL A PENALTY SHOOT-OUT. THE GAME IS DECIDED FAIR AND SQUARE AFTER AN EXCITING EXTRA TIME DUEL. If you see this scheme anywhere else it's because I've been trying to be heard since 1991 when Bob Wilson said on English TV that a good alternative to the penalty shoot out was probably impossible.

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