In a groundbreaking decision, UEFA have voted to remove the away goals rule from all European club competition (men, women, and youth) with immediate effect, bringing an end to a law that had been a staple of the beautiful game for 56 years!
This move was announced after the UEFA Executive Committee greenlighted a proposal to abolish the away goals rule as per recommendation from the UEFA Club Competitions Committee and the UEFA Women's Football Committee. This change will kick into effect starting from the qualifying phases of the 2021/22 competitions.
Since 1965, away goals were used to determine the winner of a two-legged knockout match when the aggregate score line was all tied up. The team that had scored more times when on the road would secure progression, but this will no longer be the case for the upcoming seasons.
Starting from 2021/22, should both teams score the same number of goals across both legs, then the game will immediately head into extra time and, if needed, penalty shootouts. Furthermore, away goals will also "be removed from the criteria used to determine the rankings when two or more teams are equal on points in the group stage".
Explaining the logic behind this decision, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin argued that the now abolished law dissuades home teams from attacking, especially when hosting the first leg, as it would leave them vulnerable to conceding a detrimental goal. Additionally, he added that it was not fair that one team had to score twice in order to avoid going out due to the away goals rule had they conceded in extra time.
"Although there was no unanimity of views, many coaches, fans and other football stakeholders have questioned its fairness and have expressed a preference for the rule to be abolished," Ceferin said in an official UEFA statement.
"The impact of the rule now runs counter to its original purpose as, in fact, it now dissuades home teams – especially in first legs – from attacking, because they fear conceding a goal that would give their opponents a crucial advantage.
"There is also criticism of the unfairness, especially in extra time, of obliging the home team to score twice when the away team has scored.
"It is fair to say that home advantage is nowadays no longer as significant as it once was.
"Taking into consideration the consistency across Europe in terms of styles of play, and many different factors which have led to a decline in home advantage, the UEFA Executive Committee has taken the correct decision in adopting the view that it is no longer appropriate for an away goal to carry more weight than one scored at home."
It will be interesting to see what the European club managers have to say about this rule change as it will add more playing time to the jam-packed seasons teams already had to deal with. The elimination of jeopardy will be welcomed by some, and disputed by others.
