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UEFA Announce The Away Goal Rule Will Be Removed From Club Competitions In 2021/2022

UEFA Announce The Away Goal Rule Will Be Removed From Club Competitions In 2021/2022

Huge news.

Daniel Marland

Daniel Marland

UEFA have officially announced the away goal rule will be removed from all their club competitions from the 2021/2022 season.

The away goal rule has been used to determine the winner of knockout ties in which both teams have scored the same amount of goals.

It has been in use for over half a century but next season will see it omitted from the Champions League and Europa League.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin claims home advantage is no longer as significant as it was in the past.

Ceferin said in a statement: "The away goals rule has been an intrinsic part of UEFA competitions since it was introduced in 1965.

"However, the question of its abolition has been debated at various UEFA meetings over the last few years.

"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.

"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.

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PA

"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."

He continued: "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."

A number of teams have benefitted from the away goal rule in recent years, including Paris Saint-Germain this season and Tottenham Hotspur in 2019.

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PA

Spurs reached the final that year after quarter-final and semi-final victories over Manchester City and Ajax, both on away goals respectively.

Featured Image Credit: PA Images

Topics: Football, Europa League, Champions League