8 Potential Game Changers For Football In The Near Future

If the internet has proved anything it is that sweeping statements can always be flawed by endless examples. Regardless, it seems right to ask, when was the last time that extra-time was really exciting or anything other than a preamble for penalties?

Extra-time has existed in the FA rulebook since 1897, but often it seems that some teams could play from the turn of the 20th century until the current day and no amount of extra-time would change the 0-0 score line. More often than not it seems that extra-time is just a purgatory for teams to exist a while longer before the true judgement of penalties will condemn them to defeat. And that’s the reality, teams hanging on for dear life. Even 1993s’ introduction of the Golden Goal rule, which intended to encourage swash-buckling, hell for leather attacking play was later scrapped.

Players find it physically and mentally difficult to prepare for and whilst penalties are far from ideal, at a time when fixture congestion is frequently the focal point of any good managers’ excuse-laden pre/post-match press conference, extra football within extra matches seems increasingly like a hat on a hat.

Straight to penalties is the way forward… until we come up with something better.