Gary Lineker has reportedly called for extra time to be scrapped in the FA Cup in the aftermath of Manchester United’s defeat to Fulham.
After 120 minutes of play that failed to separate the two teams, Ruben Amorim’s team suffered yet another defeat as they were eliminated from the competition on penalties at Old Trafford.
Just before halftime, Calvin Bassey gave Fulham the lead, and halfway through the second half, Bruno Fernandes levelled the score.
But then there was almost an hour of goalless football, which both Alan Shearer and Lineker feel could have been prevented.
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“We’ve argued many times, just get rid of extra time. Just go to penalties. It makes so much sense,” Lineker, 64, said on The Rest Is Football podcast.
“Especially considering the amount of football teams are playing now, the number of injuries we’re seeing. Just play 90 minutes, then decide it on penalties.
Because once it goes into extra time, most of us are thinking, especially when it’s as poor as it was last night, you’re just thinking ‘come on, penalty shootout, a bit of excitement’.”
Shearer, 54, agreed, telling his colleague: “Straight to penalties. I’m all for that.”
Such a rule modification has been suggested on the show previously. In an effort to reduce fixture congestion, the Football Association controversially opted to do away with FA Cup replays after the first round last year.
According to Lineker, extra time ought to have been eliminated as well.
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