Away goals rule abolished for UEFA club competitions

UEFA have abolished the away goals rule in all their club competitions from next season.

The rule has been in place for all two-legged ties in UEFA competitions which stated that the team who scored the more away goals would win if teams drew on aggregate.

All ties finishing level after two legs will now go straight to extra time regardless of the amount of away goals scored.

Game played in the Champions League, Europa League, Women’s Champions League and the newly formed Europa Conference League.

“It is no longer appropriate for an away goal to carry more weight,” said Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin.

“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 now no longer as significant as it once was.”

Cover Photo: Zellreder [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons