A major rule change to the Champions League could be in the pipeline with the long-standing ‘away goal’ rule set to be scrapped by governing body UEFA.
The rule, which was thought up in 1965, comes into effect in the event of a draw after both legs in a cup tie, with the team scoring the most away goals progressing.
However, German publication Kicker claims UEFA’s Executive Committee, headed by DFB president Reinhard Grindel, will meet in Rome and discuss the potential rule change on Wednesday.
A final decision on the matter is not expected after this meeting, however.
The away goal rule was introduced because away games in the 1960s were associated with enormous travel stress and match balls not being standardised.
Thus, home advantage was larger than it is today but the rule is now viewed by some as outdated.
Following a meeting of top international coaches in September 2018, UEFA competition director Giorgio Marchetti said “they [the coaches] think that achieving away goals is not as difficult as in the past.”