It’s an American idea that American soccer even abandoned, but various reports indicate that the English Football League board is set to consider doing away with draws altogether, letting matches be decided instead by penalty shoot-outs. The BBC said no timetable was given for implementing the proposal if it was to pass.
The idea came from a Football League Fans Survey in which the majority claimed they’d rather see matches end in a shootout format than in a draw. Two options will now be considered: a traditional penalty shoot-out or the old North American Soccer League and MLS option where a player would have a certain amount of time to score after receiving the ball on the half-way line.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, for one, dislikes the idea. “I saw this in my first year managing in Japan — it did not have spectacular results.” He added: The draw is part of the culture of the game and I would not like that to disappear.” Bournemouth’s Kevin Bond agreed. “Why can’t we just have a draw? I think it’s too much of a radical change.” The Football League has jurisdiction over the bottom three divisions of professional soccer in England.