The away goals rule is going to be scrapped, with UEFA expected to make the change as soon as possible. This is expected to change football considerably, with UEFA’s Club Commission having passed the issue on to the Executive Committee.
A few years ago, Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone requested that the away goals rule be scrapped after extra time. The reason behind it being that the team that one of the teams would have 30 minutes more to secure an advantage over the other team.
And considering the issue logically, there is truth to Simeone’s perspective. The rule will now be scrapped permanently, and will be across all European competitions, which includes the Champions League, Europa League and the newly introduced Europa Conference League.
Former Arsenal coach and current UEFA official favoured the abolition of the away goals rule, when he said:
“I believe the tactical weight of the away goal has become too important,” said Wenger in 2008.
He concluded, “Teams get a 0-0 draw at home and they’re happy. Instead of having a positive effect, it has been pushed too far tactically in the modern game. It has the opposite effect than it was supposed to have. It favours defending well when you play at home.”
The scrapping of the rule in the knockout stages of each competition will polarise fans from all perspectives. While some will be in favour, some surely won’t. The rule was introduced in 1965 and will become obsolete from the next season, in all possibility.
