The Rule[]
The rule stated that:
"In event of the two scores being tied at the end of 90 minutes, the match would proceed into extra time, with the leading team at the end of the first 15 minutes winning the match. Else, the match would continue till the end of extra time, and the usual rules would apply".
This led to widespread confusion among spectators, already baffled by the complex Golden Goal rule, which served as a predecessor to this. The conspiracists at UEFA had worked out the nitty-gritties of this rule just in time to catch their flight to the Vatican, witnessing the next Pope's ascesion. This is the main reason for the unanimous backlash faced by the Body in its upcoming years.
Introduction and Use[]
Introduced in 2002, the rule was supposed to act as a peacemaker between the extra-defensive managers, and the bored spectators of the teenage-age football that the world was just growing up from. It was completely optional, though, which led to speculate that Alex Ferguson had again used his magical referential powers in the courts of Football. Nevertheless, the Champions League opted for this format.
The most famous, and the only incident where this was used, was in the qualifiers between Ajax and GAK (who were fortunate enough to get tickets to Amsterdam by a generous lady at the station), when Tomáš Galásek scored in the 103rd minute, to a rapture among the home fans. Noticeably, the referee had a hard time convincing the semi-drunk crowd that the match still had a few minutes left. Reportedly, this led to some off-screen violence in the stands.
Abolition[]
Soon enough, the football community grew tired of nonsense being spat out every few months. Even UEFA did not consider this backlash, being involved in more moneymaking, and counting the latest delivery of notes that had just arrived at their headquarters. Owing to this, the decision to abolish this rule was taken, much to the delight of all except Ferguson, who could be heard murmuring about a certain Ronaldo from little-known Portugal.
Finally, in February 2004, the hammer came down in the courts, granting freedom of expression to all husbands who could grab a quick bite without sacrificing 15 minutes of their life to mediocre, defensive stupidity in European Competitions.
'The Rule' , infamously called, has since been never spoken of, and is considered dead. However, Sepp Blatter was once quoted in a conference saying,
"... Rules are meant to be broken ..."
which has sparked of controversial rumours since May 2015.