FIFA's head,Sepp Blatter, announced the decision six years ago to cheers and celebration.

VOA: special.2010.06.09

Blatter witnessed both officiating mistakes Sunday during the round-of-16 matches between England and Germany and between Argentina and Mexico.

VOA: standard.2010.06.29

Blatter said he apologized to England and Mexico and that FIFA was already studying how to improve refereeing or match control.

VOA: standard.2010.06.29

Penalty critics, who've been led by Blatter of late, argue that that when soccer turns to this endgame, "it loses its essence as a team sport, " as Blatter put it.

WSJ: Euro 2012: An Apologia for the Penalty Kick Shootout

Blatter was first elected in 1998 and is now in his fourth successive four-year term.

WSJ: FIFA Slowly Steers Itself Toward Reform

And the sense around the congress was that Blatter would seek one more term in 2015.

WSJ: FIFA Slowly Steers Itself Toward Reform