Auswärtsregel

The Auswärtsregel, often translated as the "away goals rule," was a tie-breaking method used in some two-legged football (soccer) competitions. In a two-legged tie, two teams play each other twice, once at each team's home stadium. If the aggregate score after both matches was level, the team that scored more goals away from home would be declared the winner.

This rule aimed to encourage attacking play and reduce the incentive for teams to play defensively in their home matches, as a single away goal could be decisive. It was particularly relevant when the overall score was tied, for instance, if the first leg ended 1-0 to Team A and the second leg ended 1-0 to Team B. In this scenario, both teams would have scored one goal in total, and the outcome would be decided by the Auswärtsregel. If Team A scored one goal in the second leg played at Team B's stadium, they would win the tie despite the aggregate score being level.

The Auswärtsregel was widely used in various European club competitions, including the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League, as well as in many domestic cup competitions. However, its application has become less common in recent years. In 2021, UEFA announced the abolition of the away goals rule in all its club competitions, citing a desire to increase the attractiveness of matches and reduce potential injustices. Other federations and leagues have also reviewed or removed the rule.