Sepp Blatter never ceases to amaze me. First it was the moron being corrupt by giving the racist Russians the World Cup (not to mention the whole Qatar issue), then he wouldn't let England wear the poppies in support of our troops, and now, as soon as an English team beat the Germans on penalties to win the Champions League in Germany, he now wants to get rid of them altogether. Someone needs to replace him before he ruins the game, and quick. I cannot take it much longer.
I do not envy the task that awaits Franz Beckenbauer and his team of finding an alternative. It seems to me that there isn't a suitable and logical solution. Yes, penalties are cruel, but so was the Golden Goal, and so was the completely ridiculous tossing of coins that had in place beforehand. It's not like penalties are pure luck - in many cases they're incredibly difficult.
He says that football loses its 'essence' during penalty shootouts. Well, what about in-match fighting? Or piss-poor refereeing? Surely football loses its essence just as much in those situations, yet there's no way you'll get rid of that; if only there was a way you could change decisions if the referee's called it wrong? Some sort of TECHNOLOGY to be put in place to determine whether the ball had crossed the GOAL-LINE, perhaps? Take the hint, Sepp.
One thing I can agree with him on is that football can be a 'tragedy' when it goes to penalty kicks. Of course it does, but that's what makes it so exciting. That's why, especially the neutral fans, yearn for inconclusive extra times to set up a nerve-jangling 12-yard decider from hell. It must be pain for the players but I think as football fans, we thrive on witnessing that pain. And the more we see it, the more entertained we become. Plus, the fact that victory and defeat can be settled upon one kick of a football that ensues simultaneous outpours of ecstasy and despair across the global audience creates drama that is unrivalled in any other sport in the world.
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| *Thinks back to this moment, then cries a little.* |
I've literally just finished watching the League 1 Play-Off Final shootout and I became so engrossed in the action. If there was any justification that penalties are the way to go, that was it. 22 penalties until the Sheffield United 'keeper blazed one over the bar. That was after only 4 of the first 10 penalties were scored - it was so unpredictable and topsy-turvy it was unreal, and in truth it was the perfect tonic after a dreadful 2 hours of football.
Basically, penalties are the best way to finish a dead-end football match. If 120 minutes of normal football can't change it, you need a tense, quickfire way to get a winner. Penalty shootouts are unique sporting situations that behold bucketloads of drama, suspense and tension, that if they were ever to leave the beautiful game, many fans may lose faith in football altogether.
Basically, penalties are the best way to finish a dead-end football match. If 120 minutes of normal football can't change it, you need a tense, quickfire way to get a winner. Penalty shootouts are unique sporting situations that behold bucketloads of drama, suspense and tension, that if they were ever to leave the beautiful game, many fans may lose faith in football altogether.
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