I'VE SAID it before and I'll say it again; the away goals rule
is the most ridiculous rule in football. What makes a goal scored in
one stadium more worthy of one scored in another?? Simply because
some men in suits at UEFA have said so??
For the second time in three seasons Arsenal have crashed out of
the Champions League on away goals which makes my rants on the
subject appear to be merely sour grapes. But I have thought this for
as long as I have been watching football.
The reason this rule was introduced was to encourage more
attacking play from the away side and to reduce the need for penalty
shoot-outs. But at least penalties rely on skill. And if anything the
away goals rule simply encourages negative play, especially from the
team with an away goal to defend. 90 minutes of defence against
attack. Otherwise known as a 'Chelsea.'
A two-leg tie lasts 180 minutes and the team which scores the most
goals over the two games should go through. If both teams score an
equal number of goals then extra time and subsequently penalties
should be used to determine the winner. Simple but effective.
The other alternative would be to play all knock-out games as a
one-off, drawn FA Cup-style to determine the home and away teams. As
well as reducing the number of games, it would also make the whole
thing far more exciting. Most first legs are usually boring affairs
and even if they finish 4-3, it is effectively only half time. So you
pay full price for a ticket to see only half of the tie. Imagine
going to see a West End show and they sent you home at the interval
asking you to come back in two weeks time to see the conclusion. And you have to pay again!!!
In fact the more I think about it the more I feel the Champions
League is just a complete waste of time and money. I yearn for the
good old days of the European Cup where just the Champions qualified.
Yes it would mean Arsenal would not be in it, but so what?? We could
instead pool our resources into what really matters; winning the
Premier League and FA Cup. It might even make the League Cup a
worthwhile competition again.
But if we have to persist with the charade that is the Champions
League lets at least scrap the away goals rule. A goal is a goal no
matter where in the world it is scored. That is what makes football
what it is. What next? Deciding ties on who scored the best goals?? A
25-yard volley being more worthy than a 2-yard tap in? The team with
the best haircuts to go through?? Have a celebrity studio judging panel, Strictly style. Why not?? Is that really any more stupid
than the current system??
It has been suggested that I wouldn't be writing this if last
night Arsenal had won 4-2 in Monaco and gone through on away goals
but that is completely missing the point. For the record I would
actually hate Arsenal to go through on away goals. It would be a
hollow victory. Not really a victory at all in fact.
It was a bizarre sight seeing the Monaco players and fans
celebrating last night. They had just lost 2-0 at home. In what world
can that ever be a good result and worthy of such celebration?? Then
in the post-match interviews it was suggested that the better side
had gone through. Really?? The tie finished 3-3; they won at our
place, we won at theirs. I would suggest that means that there was in
fact no 'better' side. They were both equal.
What other sport is decided in this manner? Imagine if in tennis
points won against the serve counted double?? 0-30, game!! Or in
cricket if the away runs counted double?? No one would think that
was a good idea. So why is it considered acceptable in our national sport??
Answers on a post card to M .Platini, UEFA.
