The away goals rule has historically been crucial in determining results in knockout rounds of the Champions League and Europa League.
But since the start of the 2021-22 season, the away goals rule has no longer been enforced.
Here’s how the extra-time and penalty shootout rules work in Uefa competitions:
What was the away goals rule?
Before being abolished, the away goals rule placed greater weight on the importance of goals scored away from home. Essentially, the rule was applied to decide the winner of a two-legged knockout match where the number of goals scored by both sides was equal on aggregate.
If team A had scored more of their goals away from home than team B had, they would be declared the winner of a tie that had finished level and would progress to the next round.
In the rare instance that both teams had scored the same number of goals at home and away, the tie would be decided through extra-time and failing that, the dramatic spectacle of a penalty shoot-out.
Why was the rule scrapped?
Uefa made the decision to scrap the away goals rule from all of its competitions (men’s, women’s and youth) on 24 June 24 2021 following a “broad consultation process” with various stakeholders across football.
Explaining the abolition of the rule, Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin said: “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.
“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 nowadays no longer as significant as it once was.”
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The away goals rule had been put in place for Uefa competitions since the 1965-66 season with the objective of encouraging sides to take more risk away from home and, therefore, provide more entertainment.
After watching his Arsenal side lose to Monaco on away goals in 2015, Arsene Wenger stated that the rule was out of date. He said: “The rule was created in the 1960s and the weight of the away goal is too great today.”
What happens now that there is no away goals rule?
Ties during which both sides score the same number of goals are now no longer decided by the number of away goals.
Instead, both sides contest the tie with extra-time and, if necessary, a penalty shootout will determine which club progresses to the next stage of the competition.
All of the details are stated in Article 20 of Uefa’s official rules and regulations for its competitions:
Article 20
For matches played under the knockout system, if the two teams involved in a tie score the same number of goals over the two legs, two 15-minute periods of extra time are played at the end of the second leg. The team which scores more goals during extra time qualifies for the next stage. If both teams score the same number of goals or no goals are scored during extra time, kicks from the penalty mark determine which team qualifies for the next stage.
If extra time is required, there is a five-minute break between the end of normal time and the start of extra time. As a rule, the players remain on the field of play during this five-minute break, at the discretion of the referee.
Kicks from the penalty mark are taken in accordance with the procedure laid down in the IFAB Laws of the Game.
To ensure that the procedure is strictly observed, the referee is assisted by his team, who also note down the numbers of the players on each team who have taken kicks from the penalty mark.
Article 20 Knockout system, extra time and kicks from the penalty mark – Uefa rules and regulations.
Does the away goals rule apply across other competitions?
The away goals rule was first introduced to English domestic competition in the League Cup in the 1980-81 season.
Before that, all ties, including two-legged ones, would be replayed if the scores were level afer 180 minutes.
In 2018-19, however, the rule was abolished from the League Cup and all knockout ties were decided by a penalty shootout if scores finished level.
Therefore, no English domestic cup competition now actively uses the away goals rule.
Even in the FA Cup, in the event of a draw, replays are held. And at the end of the replay, if scores are level, the matches go intro extra-time and after that, penalties. The same sequence of events applies to two-legged ties in the Carabao Cup semi-final stage.
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