FIFA president Sepp Blatter asks panels to study scrapping extra-time at World Cup

FIFA to study scrapping extra-time at World Cup

ZURICH — FIFA’s president has asked two of the governing body’s committees to examine scrapping extra-time at the 2014 World Cup and encourage more attacking play.

Sepp Blatter says changes could include going directly to a penalty shootout if teams are tied after 90 minutes in a knockout match, or reintroducing the golden goal rule that applied at the 1998 and 2002 World Cups, in which the first goal of extra-time decides the game.

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 ruling executive, which meets Oct. 28-29 in Zurich.