Franz Beckenbauer: Whoever Invented the Golden Goal is an Enemy of Football - 2003-10-18

Franz Beckenbauer, the president of Bayern Munich and a legendary star in the history of German and world football, has ridiculed the golden goal rule in football, claiming that it deprives spectators of more goals and excitement during extra time. The golden goal in a football match is a goal scored during extra time that ends the match immediately if the score was tied at the end of regular time, regardless of the remaining time. Beckenbauer, who is also the president of the German committee organizing the 2006 FIFA World Cup, made these remarks after the German women's national team won the Women's World Cup final against Sweden with a golden goal last Sunday. However, Beckenbauer stated, "This is completely meaningless. This is the most ridiculous rule that has entered football history; most significant events occur late in the match and during extra time." The football star referenced the match known as the 'Game of the Century,' where Germany faced Italy in the semi-finals of the 1970 World Cup, which saw five goals scored in extra time, with Italy winning 4-3. Beckenbauer argued that if the golden goal rule had been in effect during that match, no one would even talk about it today, adding, "Whoever invented this golden goal is an enemy of football." Interestingly, Germany itself has benefited from the golden goal, notably in the 1996 European Championship final in England, where Oliver Bierhoff's golden goal led the German national team to a 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic. UEFA will now implement a silver goal instead of a golden goal for this season's UEFA Cup and Champions League, where the leading team will be declared the winner after the first 15 minutes of extra time.