English players all over the country were rejoicing today about a story in The Express about a possible replacement for penalty shoot-outs. Unsurprisingly, it’s an Englishman’s suggestion. Henry Birtles, a “succesful negotiator of broadcast rights”, is putting forward the idea of The Advantage.
Here’s how I understand it: in the result of a draw, the penalty shoot-out is reduced to three each, and moved to the end of 90-minutes. The winner of the shoot-out takes their ‘Advantage’ (one ‘goal’) into extra-time, now played after the penalties. If the score (not including The Advantage) remains level, the team who won the shoot-out wins, if the other team win in extra-time anyway, they win. The idea seems to be to force teams to attack and go for the win during extra-time, and not ‘play for penalties’.
The idea seems workable, more enjoyable, and although I’m sure the ‘lottery’ of penalties is fun and exciting for anyone apart from the English, a fairer way of settling a game. Whether or not the idea is close to being a reality is uncertain, although Birtles’ links with production company Sunset+Vine could be a good sign, as they were part of the process of bringing the hugely succesful Hawk Eye technology into cricket.
So what do you think? Is the idea workable?
1 response so far ↓
Barney // February 4, 2008 at 6:07 pm
What a stroke of genius, and like all of the best ideas, so simple. Congratulations Mr. Birtles. I hope this is the first step in your quest to change the unsatisfactory current situation in world competition football…..