Sepp Blatter has described penalty shootouts as a ‘tragedy’
What would you have to decide matches instead?
Speaking at a FIFA congress, Sepp Blatter said: “Football can be a tragedy when you go to penalty kicks, Football should not go to one to one. When it goes to penalty kicks, football loses its essence.”
That’s all well and good. We agree when England have been knocked out of major tournaments at times, it has felt like a tragedy, but try asking Chelsea fans if they feel the same way.
Penalties are only a tragedy when you lose.
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At the end of the day, the playing field is level for both teams, and it is the ultimate test of nerves.
Players should be able to convert penalties from just 12 yards out, and those who put the work in on the training ground are usually the ones who come out on top.
In Italy they once trialled 35-yard one on one competitions, also seen in America decades ago, but players found these far harder to score and they proved unpopular.
Saving that, other suggestions include playing on and on until a goal is scored, and forcing teams to remove players one by one until a goal comes, but with this having the potential to drag on for hours, it is likely televisions schedules would exert their power over the game and prevent it.
Add to the fact it would increase the risk of injuries to tired players, we can’t see it happening.
Chelsea deserved their win against Bayern Munich, it probably was the fairest way to settle it, because the other suggestions just haven’t been up to scratch.
Their Champions League win was only a tragedy for Tottenham fans.
What would you suggest as an alternative to penalty shoot outs?
image: © NathanF
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