UEFA has affirmed the away goals rule, which has been in use since 1965, will be nullified from European competitions, with the change being instituted on schedule for the 2021-22 season. 

The away goals rule has been utilized for over 50 years, yet will at this point will not be used to determine knockout matches in UEFA club competitions including the Champions League and Europa League. 

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin clarified the standard presently "runs counter to its original purpose" and expressed his conviction that it prevents groups from playing attacking football. 

Why has the rule been abolished? 

The away goal rule has been in use since the 1965-66 season, when it was utilized in the Cup Winners' Cup. 

Many have been supporting for its expulsion from UEFA club competitions with previous Arsenal supervisor Arsene Wenger and Atletico Madrid lead trainer Diego Simeone having been against it. 

Their contention was that the rule restricted those playing at home, particularly in the first leg of knockout ties, and that scoring goals from received points in twofold. 

 UEFA's official statement  on the disuse of this rule emphasized the reality there has been a decrease in home successes, and goalss, in UEFA club competitions. 

The statement read: "Statistics from the mid-1970s until now show a clear trend of continuous reduction in the gap between the number of home/away wins (from 61%/19% to 47%/30%) and the average number of goals per match scored at home/away (from 2.02/0.95 to 1.58/1.15) in men’s competitions."

UEFA president 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.

"Taking into consideration the consistency across Europe in terms of styles of play, and many different factors which have led to a decline in home advantage, the UEFA Executive Committee has taken the correct decision in adopting the view that it is no longer appropriate for an away goal to carry more weight than one scored at home."

"There is additionally analysis of the shamefulness, particularly in additional time, of obliging the host group to score twice when the away group has scored. Most would agree that home benefit is these days no longer as huge as it used to be. 

"Thinking about the consistency across Europe as far as styles of play, and various variables which have prompted a decrease in home benefit, the UEFA Executive Committee has taken the right choice in receiving the view that it is not, at this point proper for an away objective to convey more weight than one scored at home." 

What will happen now if the scores are level? 

UEFA has reported that, as is normal in numerous elite level football competitions across the world, if the scores are as yet level over a two-legged knockout tie there will be two 15-minute times of additional time. 

Should the groups score similar number of goals, or if no further goals are scored, during additional time, a penalty shootout will occur to figure out which group will go through to the following round. 

The away goal rule has prompted some important moments in knockout ties, especially in the Champions League, in the past.  

Tottenham's 3-2 success over Ajax in Amsterdam saw them advance to the last of the opposition in 2018-19 through away goals, having additionally beaten Manchester City by a similar strategy in the quarter-last. 

When will the rule change happen? 

The removal of the away goals rule will become possibly the most important factor and will be set up for the beginning of the 2021-22 mission. 

Qualifications for the 2021-22 Champions League has effectively started, with two preliminary round matches having effectively occurred. 

Kosovan club Prishtina face Andorran side Inter Escaldes in the second leg of their starter tie, and apparently the away goals rule will now not be applied to that return leg, because of happen on June 25, with Prishtina right now 2-0 ahead on total. 

A UEFA articulation read: "Following the recommendation of the UEFA Club Competitions Committee and the UEFA Women’s Football Committee, the UEFA Executive Committee has today approved a proposal to remove the so-called away goals rule from all UEFA club competitions (men, women and youth) as of the qualifying phases of the 2021-22 competitions."

What contests will be influenced? 

UEFA has expressed that all UEFA club competition, including men's, ladies' and youth competitions, will embrace the rule change. 

That implies the Champions League, Europa League, Women's Champions League, UEFA Youth League, UEFA Super Cup and the recently framed Europa Conference League will all be influenced.