Gary Neville Proposes Radical Penalty Shootout Idea to Revolutionize Premier League Football
Manchester United legend Gary Neville has revealed a bold new idea that could potentially revolutionize the Premier League—introducing penalty shootouts to decide drawn matches. During a lively discussion on The Overlap alongside fellow pundits Roy Keane, Ian Wright, and Jamie Carragher, Neville shared his vision for a more exciting way to settle league games that end in a draw.
Neville’s Penalty Proposal
Neville’s idea involves awarding an extra point through a penalty shootout after a drawn match. In his words, “I’ll go that radical. I’ve got the end of [drawn] league games, penalties for an extra point, so you get two points [if you win the shoot-out].” He believes this would create more excitement for fans, especially those attending a game that ends in a dull draw. “A kid goes to a game for the first time… sees a nil-nil draw or a 1-1. [If it goes to penalties] there’s a winner. At least there’s penalties. Kids love penalties.”
Mixed Reactions from Fellow Pundits
Neville’s proposal sparked immediate debate among his fellow pundits. Jamie Carragher suggested scrapping extra time, while Roy Keane joked about increasing the size of the goals. However, Neville’s penalty shootout idea was met with skepticism, with his colleagues commenting that it felt “very American.” Eventually, even Neville himself admitted the idea might need some tweaking, conceding, “Yeah, not sure it works actually, but it’s an idea that could be tweaked.”
Could This Idea Ever Take Off?
While Neville’s proposal may have been met with a mix of intrigue and criticism, it has certainly sparked conversation about how football could evolve. The idea of adding excitement to drawn matches through a penalty shootout appeals to some fans, particularly younger ones, but would likely face significant opposition from football purists and traditionalists.
