RefIADad
RefChat Addict
I think away goals needs to be removed as a tiebreaker, full stop.
The reason why away goals was instituted in the first place - to reward teams for the hassles of travel - have really gone away in this age of charter flights and nice hotels. Plus, the first leg of a two-legged playoff is often really boring because the first-leg home team is defending more to avoid giving up the away goal and facing a big hill to climb.
I understand FIFA wants to avoid playing extra time after 180 minutes of play, but the logic of away goals has passed. A goal is a goal, whether it's in the first minute of leg 1, the 90th minute of leg 2, or extra time.
The reason why away goals was instituted in the first place - to reward teams for the hassles of travel - have really gone away in this age of charter flights and nice hotels. Plus, the first leg of a two-legged playoff is often really boring because the first-leg home team is defending more to avoid giving up the away goal and facing a big hill to climb.
I understand FIFA wants to avoid playing extra time after 180 minutes of play, but the logic of away goals has passed. A goal is a goal, whether it's in the first minute of leg 1, the 90th minute of leg 2, or extra time.