Away goals could soon be a thing of the past after top coaches told Uefa that scoring away from home is not as difficult as it once was.
Uefa intends to review the away-goals rule in continental competition after leading coaches suggested the time is right for a change.
Away-goals could be done away with
Giorgio Marchetti, deputy secretary general of European football's governing body, confirmed it would "open a discussion" on the future of the rule used to split teams who are level on aggregate in knockout ties in the Champions League and Europa League.
"The coaches think that scoring goals away is not as difficult as it was in the past," Marchetti told reporters. "They think the rule should be reviewed and that's what we will do.
"They consider the situation in football has changed and the weight of the away goals is not the same as many years ago when the rule was introduced."
The rule was first used in the European Cup Winners' Cup of 1965 as a way of settling ties that finished level, so as to avoid the prospect of deciding the result with a coin toss or a replay at a neutral venue, which was a far greater logistical challenge than it is today.
Marchetti spoke after the annual Elite Club Coaches Forum in Nyon, which is used to swap ideas with Uefa about possible improvements to the game and debate the future of the continent's top tournaments.
Football improvements being considered
Along with the away-goals rule, the use of VAR and the technical and tactical aspects of last season's tournaments, attendees also called for a unified end to the transfer window.
A number of coaches are said to have been frustrated this year by the different closing dates for individual countries and leagues.
"We discussed the summer transfer windows - the coaches were of the view that there should be a unified window - and that the window should not overlap with the start of competitions," Marchetti said.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho, Real Madrid boss Julen Lopetegui and Paris Saint-Germain's Thomas Tuchel were among the coaches to attend, along with former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
The others included Carlo Ancelotti of Napoli, Atletico Madrid's Diego Simeone, Rafa Benitez of Newcastle United, Sergio Conceicao of Porto, Paulo Fonseca of Shakhtar Donetsk, Marseille's Rudi Garcia and Senol Gunes of Besiktas.
Puzabdio
20
Ah I think BACA behind this change, after what happened to them last season against Roma,
dennisachafu
13
When teams are tied with the same goals,it is necessary to use away goal rules. That's what makes the game competitive as every team would want to score away. I was not surprised when I saw Baca and Man utd coach in the attendance especially after what they suffered in the hands of Roma and Sevilla last season. Let them leave the rules the way it is and organize their teams to get away goals. We want teams to be more serious especially when they are playing away.
jizdikuz
12
What makes away goal rule so special,teams must just win straight,if the game ended 0-0,and the other end 1-1 ,what is the difference?both are draws and 1 point,is as simple as that.teams must just win,why dont they say to the other team that u fail to score at your home ground but they just look at one point that the team defended well at their home ground?its not fair.get rid of away goal rule.
M_B-7
11
Football is a game of goals so is must be decided by Goals rather than stupid away goal rules. It makes no sense when both teams are levelled on aggregate but one team got kicked out of the tournament cause of away goal! I was against this rule since I started watching football. I would be happy if match will be decided on goals in WC rather than cards.( When points are same in the group stage) Hope we'll see some new developed rules in football.