ROMA
No more calculations, attacking strategies, strenuous defenses, from next season (2021/22) it will no longer be valid than away goals in all UEFA club competitions. The rule, according to which since 1965 the goals scored away from home are worth double when two teams have scored the same number of times between home and away, has been abolished by the UEFA Executive Committee, following the recommendation of the Competitions Committee and the one for women’s football. “It is no longer appropriate for an away goal to weigh more than one scored at home – comments Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin -. The rule dissuaded the home teams, especially in the first leg, from attacking ».
“The away goals rule has been an intrinsic part of Uefa competitions since it was introduced in 1965 (but in 1970, at the time of the Roma-Gornik Cup Winners Cup semi-final, the rule was not valid, as Roma drew 2-2, with a goal from Scaratti in the 119th minute, away from home after the 1-1 first leg and had to play a playoff match that was decided by the coin after yet another even). The question of its abolition has been debated in various UEFA meetings in recent years. Even if there was no unanimity of views, many coaches, fans and other football players questioned its fairness and expressed a preference for abolishing the rule, ”added the Uefa No. 1 in a statement.
“The impact of the rule now goes against its original purpose because, in fact, it dissuades the home teams, especially in the first leg, from attacking, for fear of conceding a goal that would give their opponents a crucial advantage,” he added.
According to the UEFA president, «it is correct to say that the home advantage is no longer as significant today as it once was. Taking into consideration consistency across Europe in terms of playing styles, and many different factors that reduced the home advantage, the Executive Committee made the correct decision by deciding that the view that an away goal weighs more is no longer appropriate. than one scored at home ».
Now, in the event of a tie in the two matches in a qualifying round, extra time and possibly penalties will be decisive. With the cancellation of the rule, away goals in head to head are also removed from the criteria used to determine the standings when two or more teams are tied for points in the group stage. However, they will not be removed from the additional criteria applied to all group matches if the teams remain tied, in order to maintain the highest number of sporting criteria. –