This archive report was first published on 25 June 2021.
Uefa, the governing body of European football, has announced a significant change to its club competitions. From next season, the away-goals rule will be scrapped, and extra time and penalties will be used to decide ties.
The decision, made by the Uefa Executive Committee, follows a recommendation from the Uefa Club Competitions Committee and the Uefa Women's Football Committee. The change will apply to all Uefa club competitions for men, women, and youth.
The away-goals rule, which had been in place since 1965, was used to determine a winner when teams were level on aggregate after a two-legged match. However, Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin has stated that the rule now runs counter to its original purpose, as it dissuades home teams from attacking and creates unfairness, especially in extra time.
According to Ceferin, the home advantage is no longer as significant as it once was, and 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.
The change will also affect the criteria used to determine rankings in the group stage, with away goals no longer being given additional weight. However, they will still be used as an additional criterion in certain situations.
