The club competition committee of Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has agreed to remove the away goals rule from European competitions next season, reported The Times.

The rule first came into effect in 1965 for knockout competitions of club events in Europe. If two teams finish level after two leg games, the side that scores more goals in the away game is the winner and will make the next stage,

It will take approval from UEFA's executive committee to finally pass the proposal. The executive committee will convene on July 9. If it's passed, the rule change will affect the Champions League, the Europa League and the Europa Conference League.

When it was introduced 56 years ago, the away goals rule was to encourage teams to be more aggressive and invest more in offense at more hostile away stadium. However, last season, many European games had to happen at neutral stadiums because of the COVID-19 pandemic or behind closed doors – so there was no hostile crowd – while the away goals rule stood.

Some argue that games at neutral or closed grounds proved that teams have become much better at scoring on the road. Some believe that teams with away goal advantage are more likely to stand fast than take the initiative to launch an attack, making the home game ugly to watch.

Those are some of the voices backing dispelling the rule.

However, they are not making a convincing case. For example, many teams have already returned to their stadiums which have begun to allow spectators in as well. Fans also grew more passionate in their support of home teams after being unable to watch games in stadiums for months.

Furthermore, modern football attaches more importance to ball pressure, speed and efficiency, making it hard for teams to park the bus. Scrapping the away goals rule, on the other hand, may hurt the game because it devalues goals and thus, makes teams less motivated to attack.