Finally UEFA ‘decides to scrap off 56 years historic away goals in European competitions.’
UEFA have decided to scrap away goals in European competitions amid a growing sense the rule is outmoded, according to reports.
The rule has been in place in European competitions for 56 years and suggests that the team who has scored the most goals away from home over a two-legged fixture win the tie should it be level on aggregate after extra time in the second leg.
But after convention on Friday, a UEFA committee has resolved to abolish it, The Times reports, with an executive committee now requiring to approve the move.
It’s understood that the use of neutral venues for some fixtures due to the coronavirus pandemic made the rule seem expressly irrelevant, while in general home advantage in two-legged ties is not as great as it once was.
The rule has been a significant part of European competition and has had a vital impact, leading for calls to scrap it for many years.
The rule has led to lots of drama in major games, and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher hit out at UEFA for calling the rule into interrogation, telling them they are making a ‘big mistake’ as it could make games less appealing.
“The away goals rule in Europe makes the games so much more exciting, please read this thread @UEFA.com for the reasons why you are making a big mistake.”
During Tottenham’s run to the Champions League final in the 2018/19 season, the away goals rule guaranteed they advanced past both Manchester City and Ajax, while in the same season Manchester United beat PSG in the last 16 thanks to their three goals in Paris.
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This season, Juventus hit out on away goals after Porto scored in the 115th minute of the second leg to send them on their way to a memorable two-legged triumph.
Mauricio Pochettino’s PSG side profited from the rule to beat Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals after the tie had finished 3-3 on aggregate.
Arsene Wenger during his time as Arsenal manager was a candid critic, and once again summoned for the rule to be binned after the Gunners and Chelsea were both knocked out of the Champions League on away goals in 2015.
Wenger said: “Two teams have gone out on away goals, which I think should be questioned because it’s a rule that is outdated now and has to be changed. I’ve fought for that for a long time.
“It should count maybe after extra time because this [current] rule was created in the sixties to encourage teams to attack away from home. Since then football has changed. The weight of the away goal is too big today.
“I think maybe you can count [away goals] after extra-time like in the League Cup in England.”
Three years ago, UEFA’s deputy secretary-general Giorgio Marchetti said the organization would assess the situation after many of the game’s top coaches insisted the rule favored the away side too much.
“The coaches think that scoring goals away is not as difficult as it was in the past,” Marchetti said.
“They think the rule should be reviewed and that’s what we will do.”
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Finally UEFA ‘decides to scrap off 56 years historic away goals in European competitions.’
