The Coin Toss to Break Ties (1954-1970)
Before penalties, ties in knockout rounds were resolved with a coin toss. In Spain 1982, Germany and France tied 3-3 after extra time, leading to the first World Cup penalties.
The Golden Goal Rule (1998-2002)
For two World Cups, the first goal in extra time ended the match immediately. France won Euro 2000 this way against Italy. It was abandoned for being too dramatic and favoring defensive play.
Red and Yellow Cards (since 1970)
Before Mexico 1970, expulsions depended on the referee's verbal judgment. Englishman Ken Aston invented the cards inspired by traffic lights while driving through London.
VAR (since 2018)
Russia 2018 was the first World Cup with VAR. Since then, referee decisions can be reviewed, though it still generates controversy.
