The UEFA competitions committee have reportedly made a major decision which, if approved by the executive committee, would impact Rangers’ European ties next season.
The Times are reporting that the competitions committee have decided to scrap the away goals rule, which has been in place in European club competitions for 56 years.
There have been various discussions about removing the rule in recent seasons, amid concerns that it has become outdated, and now, a historic change looks set to be made.
With Europa League qualifiers temporarily moving to single-leg affairs and neither of Rangers’ knockout ties finishing level on aggregate, the away goals rule didn’t have a tangible impact on Steven Gerrard’s side during the 2020/21 campaign.
However, the presence of the rule has a fundamental impact on the approach adopted by teams in all two-legged ties.
Its removal would reduce the need for sides to go searching for a goal in an away leg and increase the chances of ties going to extra-time and penalties.
Rangers are hoping to make it into the Champions League group stages next season and with qualifiers returning to a two-leg format, they will have to negotiate four matches to get there.
The coaching staff and players will no doubt be watching this story closely, as, if the rule is scrapped, it will impact tactics when the Gers kick off their 2021/22 campaign.
In other news, a tease for a new documentary has shown Sir Alex Ferguson looking back fondly on signing for Rangers.
