UEFA has officially abolished the away goals rule. From now on there is always extra time in case of a tie
The European continental association UEFA has abolished the away goals rule for all European cup competitions with the start of the coming season (2021/22). This was announced by UEFA on Thursday. Instead, if there is a tie between two teams, there will be a 30-minute extension after two games, followed by a penalty shoot-out if necessary.
The away goals rule was first applied in 1965. This was intended to reward teams that scored goals on a foreign pitch despite the difficult travel arrangements at the time.
Away goals rule in the European Cup: Debate about abolition for years
The abolition of the rule had been debated again and again in recent years. Proponents usually see an element of tension, while critics argue that it is outdated and unfair. As part of the announcement, UEFA itself published statistics according to which the proportion of home wins has fallen from 61 percent to 47 percent since the mid-1970s, while the proportion of away wins has increased from 19 to 30 percent.
The abolition of the away goals rule will apply from the 2021/22 season to all competitions under the auspices of UEFA, including the Women’s Champions League and the Youth League.
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