FIFA to study scrapping extra-time at 2014 WCup

[September 09, 2010]  GENEVA (AP) -- FIFA's president wants the governing body to consider scrapping extra-time at the 2014 World Cup to encourage an attacking style after defensive tactics dominated in South Africa.

Sepp Blatter said Thursday he wants to discourage teams from defensive play when they are tied after 90 minutes in a knockout match "in an attempt to avoid conceding a goal at all costs."

"To prevent this, we could go directly to a penalty shootout at full time, or reintroduce the golden goal rule," Blatter said in an interview published on FIFA's website.

The golden goal rule applied at the 1998 and 2002 World Cups, in which the first goal of extra-time decides the game.

Blatter also is unhappy with some teams' negative approach in their first group matches at the recent World Cup.

"We witnessed some teams that went out to avoid defeat, that were playing for a draw from the outset. We have to try to find a way to encourage free-flowing football in tournaments like the World Cup, with teams playing to win," Blatter said.

FIFA's Football and Technical & Development committees will study the issues when they both meet on Oct. 18.

The panels will report to FIFA's executive committee which meets Oct. 28-29 in Zurich.

The football committee is chaired by Franz Beckenbauer, who captained and coached West Germany to World Cup victories and now sits on FIFA's 24-man executive committee. Other members include playing greats Pele, Bobby Charlton and Roger Milla.

The technical panel is chaired by Oceania confederation president Reynald Temarii, a former professional player in France. It includes Carlos Bilardo, who coached Argentina to the 1986 World Cup title, and former players Romario of Brazil and South Africa's Jomo Sono.

The 2014 World Cup tournament will be played in Brazil.

[Associated Press; By GRAHAM DUNBAR]

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