Golden goal

Golden goal is a method used in association football to decide the result of games in elimination matches which end in a draw after the end of ordinary time (90 minutes). Two periods of fifteen-minute extra time are played. If any team scores a goal during extra-time, that team becomes the winner and the game ends at once. The winning goal is known as the Golden Goal.

If there are no goals after both extra time periods, a penalty shoot-out decides the game.

Even though this kind of arrangement is known as sudden death in some other games, and the term sudden death is only informally used when speaking about football; the only official term is "golden goal". The term golden goal was introduced by FIFA along with the rule change because "sudden death" was perceived to have negative connotations.

The sudden-death format of the Golden Goal was first introduced in a major tournament during the 1996 European Football Championship. The final of that tournament (between Germany and the Czech Republic) was the first match to be decided by such a goal.

The Golden Goal rule was introduced to stimulate offensive flair and to effectively reduce the number of penalty shoot-outs. However, it is arguable that this ruling backfired as more teams decide to play defensive football to safeguard a loss. It is also thought to put excessive pressure on the referee.

In the 2002 season UEFA introduced a new rule, the so-called silver goal, to decide a competitive match. In extra time a team leading after the first fifteen minute period, or after the second fifteen minute period, would win, but the game would no longer stop the instant a team scored.

In February 2004 it was decided that after Euro 2004 in Portugal the overtimes will return to the usual two halves of 15 minutes as they were before the 1994 World Cup, without either the golden or silver goal rulings.