UEFA has announced that from the beginning of the 2021/22 season onwards, the rule on away goals will no longer be implemented in any of their competitions.
The verdict has existed since 1965 and meant that if the total score between two teams over two legs was tied, the side that scored more away goals would go on to the next round of competition.
If both sides had scored the same number of away goals, the tie would go into extra time, although UEFA has now released a statement confirming away goals will no longer carry more weight than goals scored at home, and if the total points are even after the two legs, the game will automatically go into extra time.
European football’s governing body released a brief statement confirming the change taking place with immediate effect – although this of course has no bearing on the European Championships but two-legged bands involved in the tournament – explain the advantage of playing at home has diminished over time and they no longer feel the rule is necessary.
“Following the recommendation of the UEFA Club Competitions Committee and the UEFA Women’s Football Committee, the UEFA Executive Committee has today approved a proposal to remove the so-called away goal rule from all UEFA club competitions. [men, women and youth] from the qualifying stages of the 2021/22 competitions, “the statement read.
“As away goals would no longer be given additional weight to decide a draw, they would also be removed from the criteria used to determine the ranking when two or more teams are equal in points in the group stage, ie the criteria applied to matches played by law in question.
Aleksander Ceferin has confirmed that the away goal rule has been removed / ANDREAS SOLARO / Getty Images
“They would not be removed from the additional criteria applied to all group matches if the teams remain equal [higher number of away goals scored in all group matches], to maintain a maximum number of sporting criteria.
“Statistics from the mid-1970s until now show a clear trend of continuous reduction of the gap between the number of home / away wins (from 61% / 19% to 47% / 30%) and the average number of goals per match scored home / away (from 2.02 / 0.95 to 1.58 / 1.15) in men’s competitions, while since 2009/10 the average goals per match have been very stable in the UEFA Champions League for women with the total average of 1 , 92 for the home team and 1.6 for the away team. “
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin explained that the abolition of the rule has been in motion for some time and that he hoped that the abolition would prevent the home team from being so careful about conceding an away goal and then playing defensive football.
“The elimination rule has been an integral part of UEFA competitions since its introduction in 1965,” he said. “However, the question of its abolition has been discussed at various UEFA meetings in recent years.
Champions League is one of the competitions affected by the change / Catherine Ivill / Getty Images
“Although there was no unanimity of opinion, many coaches, fans and other football stakeholders have questioned its fairness and have expressed a preference for abolishing the rule.
“The impact of the rule now runs counter to its original purpose, as it actually discourages home teams – especially in the first leg – from attacking, as they fear letting in a goal that would give their opponents a decisive advantage.
“There is also criticism of the injustice, especially in the long run, of forcing the home team to do twice when the away team has scored. It is fair to say that the home advantage today is no longer as significant as it once was.
“Taking into account the consistency across Europe in terms of playing styles and the many different factors that have led to a reduction in the home advantage, UEFA’s Executive Committee has made the right decision when it considers that it is no longer appropriate for an away goal to carry more weight than one made at home. ”
