Blatter takes a swipe at extra time

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Maracaibo (Venezuela) July 14: FIFA president Sepp Blatter said he liked the idea of drawn matches going straight to penalties without extra time being played.

Blatter's comment came during the Copa America, a tournament where there is no extra period.

''One thing I like about the Copa America is that you don't go to extra time. This is a very, very good decision you have taken,'' Blatter told directors of the South American Football Confederation (CSF) sitting alongside him yesterday.

''It's better to go straight to penalties. There has been no point in playing extra time since the golden goal rule was abandoned.'' Blatter did not enlarge on his comment or say if he wanted extra time abolished at tournaments such as the World Cup.

Drawn matches at most major tournaments, including the World Cup and European Championship, and in competitions like the Champions League are traditionally settled by playing 30 minutes of extra time.

If the score is still level, a penalty shootout decides the winners.

The golden goal rule, in which extra time ended as soon as a team scored a goal, was used at the 1996 and 2000 European Championship and the 1998 and 2002 World Cups.

Blatter also heaped praise on Venezuela for the way it had organised the Copa America.

''Venezuela has provided an excellent infrastructure in record time which will allow this country to bid to host other tournaments such as the world under-20 championship,'' he said.

CSF president Nicolas Leoz added: ''It has exceed Blatter takes a swipe at extra time our expectations. This will leave a marvellous legacy for future generations of Venezuela.''

Reuters










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