UEFA SCRAPS AWAY GOALS RULE
Few months ago, I wrote an article on the unfair rule that eliminated Juventus from last season’s UEFA Champions League.
Today, UEFA has done the needful by scrapping the away goals rule.
“It is no longer appropriate for an away goal to carry more weight,” said Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin.
“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,” Ceferin added.
“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 now no longer as significant as it once was.”
So from next season the away goals rule that have lasted for about 56 years will be no more.
This rule has broken the hearts of many clubs and their followers. Here are some recent ones:
On March 9, 2021, Porto eliminated Juventus on the away goals rule after the aggregate score stood at 4-4.
In 2019 Tottenham Hotspur stopped Ajax from reaching the final after the aggregate score was 3-3.
In the earlier round, Tottenham eliminated Manchester City after the two legged encounter stood at 4-4.
It is my hope that FIFA and other confederations should emulate UEFA.
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