The 2024 Copa América has been marred by a controversial decision: the elimination of extra time in all knockout matches except the final. Instead, CONMEBOL, the governing body of South American football, opted for a direct transition to penalty shootouts in the event of a draw after 90 minutes. This change has seen a mixed response.
With 3 out of the 4 quarter-final matches ending in a shootout, the question is begging to be asked. Why does the Copa America 2024 tournament skip extra time and goes straight to penalty kicks? The Euro 2024 tournament concurrently running has extra time before heading into shootouts, drastically reducing the number of games decided by penalty kicks.
CONMEBOL has defended its decision, citing player welfare as their main concern. With the modern football calendar already packed with fixtures, adding extra time to knockout matches could exacerbate player fatigue and increase the risk of injuries. Additionally, many games are taking place in particularly hot areas of the country where temperatures can reach upwards of 90 degrees. It is important to note that although the tournament has not implemented extra time throughout the tournament, there will be extra time during the finals if the score remains tied after 90 minutes.
The decision, however, has been met with widespread criticism and skepticism from various corners of the football community. Critics argue extra time allows teams to strategize, make tactical adjustments on the pitch, and potentially find a late game-winning goal which itself can be just as exciting.
"Extra time is an integral part of football," said legendary Argentinian manager Alfio Basile. "It allows teams to fight for a victory until the very end, showcasing their resilience and determination. Skipping it is a mad and crazy decision."
The elimination of extra time has also been condemned for its reliance on penalty shootouts, which are often viewed as a lottery where luck plays a significant role. This can lead to unfair outcomes, where a team that dominates a match can be eliminated due to a few missed penalties. Many believe that this format diminishes the value of the team that statistically fought the hardest.
The absence of extra time has already played a huge role in Copa América 2024. In the quarter-finals, both Venezuela and Brazil, two of the tournament favorites, suffered shock exits after losing penalty shootouts to Canada and Uruguay respectively. These results triggered questions about whether the lack of extra time influenced the outcomes.
The decision has also been criticized for its inconsistency with other major tournaments. The UEFA European Championship, for example, still includes extra time in its knockout stages. This has led to more games being finished on the field in a tactical way, compared to the "luck" that comes with winning or losing on penalty kicks.
Not everyone thinks going straight to penalty kicks is a bad thing. Many fans agree that having games go to penalty kicks makes for a more exciting outcome, with smaller teams able to create big upsets against some of the best teams in the world. This atmosphere of uncertainty keeps people interested in the game and glued to the screen to find out who comes out on top.
The controversy surrounding the elimination of extra time in the Copa América 2024 is just one of many. From questionable VAR and Referee calls, to the grass and size used on the pitch, to removing extra time, there are many questions regarding the execution of the tournament. While there is excitement in the game if it goes to extra time or penalty kicks, fans and players are divided on what is the better choice for the sport at such a high level.
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