UEFA Champions League new rule: No away goals rule from 2021/22 season- The away-goals rule was abolished Thursday by UEFA after 56 years as a fundamental way of deciding matches in its European club competitions. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin cited the “unfairness, especially in extra time, of obliging the home team to score twice when the away team has scored.”
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 goals rule from all UEFA club competitions (men, women, and youth) as of the qualifying phases of the 2021/22 competitions.
UEFA Champions League: New rules in the 2021/22 season that could affect big teams like Chelsea, Bayern, PSG, Manchester City, and more
Commenting on the abolishment of the away goals rule, UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin said: “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.”
Mr. Čeferin added: “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.”
UEFA new rule: No away goals rule from 2021/22 season- What will happen if the scores are level?
UEFA has announced that, as is common in many elite-level football competitions across the world, if the scores are still level over a two-legged knockout tie there will be two 15-minute periods of extra time.
Should the teams score the same number of goals, or if not further goals are scored, during an extra tie, a penalty shootout will take place to determine which team will go through.
UEFA Champions League: New rules in the 2021/22 season that could affect big teams like Chelsea, Bayern, PSG, Manchester City, and more
UEFA cited several factors that “blurred the lines between playing at home and away” including more television coverage to better understand opponents’ styles, comfortable travel, and better playing surfaces.
Ceferin said the rule outlived its usefulness and inhibited home teams from attacking “because they fear conceding a goal that would give their opponents a crucial advantage.”
UEFA new rule: No away goals rule from 2021/22 season- Why has the rule been scrapped?
The away goals rule has been in place since the 1965-66 season when it was used in the Cup Winners Cup. The general feeling has been that the rule was restrictive to those playing at home, especially in the first leg of knockout ties, with the view that scoring goals away from home almost counted for double.
Indeed, an official UEFA statement confirming the news that the away goals rule would no longer be used actively highlights the fact there has been a reduction in home wins, and goals, in UEFA competitions.
UEFA Champions League: New rules in the 2021/22 season that could affect big teams like Chelsea, Bayern, PSG, Manchester City, and more
Editors pick
