Top 5: Alternative views to footballing rules

3. Penalty Shootouts

The penalty shootout is a dreadful way to determine the winners of any knockout scenario. Football is well known for complex tactics and for comprising of many challenging components, yet the shootout fails to incorporate any of these elements beyond kicking a motionless ball from 12 yards against the goalkeeper. However, the reason the penalty shootout has not come under too much scrutiny is that there are not many suitable alternatives and I’m not sure than never ending extra-time is a good idea; especially in the 0-0 draws.

Middlesbrough goalkeeper Tomas Mejias saves Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney’s spot-kick during the two side’s penalty shootout earlier this season – Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.

One previously tried and tested method was Golden Goal, but this was soon removed as teams often played not to lose, rather than trying to score the deciding goal. Another possibility would be the Attacker, Defender, Goalie scenario, but this is yet to be widely accepted and thoroughly tested. Whilst neither of these options are perfect, there has to be a better way of ending 120 minutes of football than a drama-filled, luck-driven shootout.

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