Champions League

Sepp Blatter calls for away goals rule review

By Giuseppe Labellarte, Reporter | 09 October 2014

FIFA president Sepp Blatter calls for a review of the away goals rule in Europe, claiming that the current system favours the club playing away in the second leg.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has called for a review of the away goals rule in the Champions League and Europa League.

The current system, where the team who has scored the most goals away from home wins the tie if the scores are level after two legs, has been used since 1965 in European competition and still applies in the Champions League and Europa League.

Blatter wrote in the FIFA Weekly magazine: "It is time to rethink the system. Football has progressed since the 1960s, so the away goals rule may now be questioned. Does the away goals rule still make sense?

"The idea dates back to a time when away games were often an adventure, involving journeys that could be long and arduous - and the playing conditions would vary considerably.

"In reality it favours the club that plays away from home in the second leg. Where the scores are tied, that team has 30 minutes more than their opponent to score a valuable away goal. After all, in the first leg there is no extra-time."

The Swiss has suggested a modification based on away goals only counting double at the end of normal time in the second leg, instead of extra time.