Arsenal have reportedly filed a formal complaint to UEFA following a controversial decision that saw them play the second leg of their knockout tie against Paris Saint-Germain away from home. The Gunners were left dissatisfied with the scheduling, particularly as they had secured a top-four finish in the league phase of the Champions League, unlike PSG, who struggled during that stage.
Traditionally, finishing higher in the league phase is expected to come with certain advantages, such as playing the second leg at home. Arsenal felt that UEFA’s decision to reverse this norm not only disrupted the balance of the fixture but also undermined the reward structure for strong group-stage performance. A similar situation occurred earlier in the competition when the Gunners played Real Madrid at the Emirates in the first leg before travelling to the Bernabéu for the return match.
UEFA Responds to Arsenal’s Concerns
Despite successfully eliminating Real Madrid, Arsenal were ultimately knocked out of the tournament by PSG in the semi-final. In response to the scheduling anomaly, Arsenal submitted a complaint to UEFA. According to Give Me Sport, UEFA officials have since deliberated on the issue, and there is a real possibility that a change to the current format has been agreed upon in principle.
The report suggests that UEFA decision-makers acknowledge the concerns raised by the Gunners and are open to reviewing the knockout-stage structure. Although no official confirmation has been released, early discussions indicate that the competition rules could be modified to ensure greater fairness in fixture scheduling for future editions.
Potential Reforms Under Consideration
In addition to the issue of home advantage, the same report states that UEFA explored the idea of scrapping extra time in favour of proceeding directly to penalty shootouts during the knockout rounds. This would represent a significant change and could affect how clubs approach high-stakes matches.
With the Champions League format becoming increasingly demanding, clubs argue that tangible rewards must be provided for superior league-stage performance. The complaint lodged by Arsenal has amplified that message and brought attention to a wider concern among Europe’s top sides. If changes are indeed approved, it may set a precedent that reinforces the importance of the league phase and ensures fairness across the competition.
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More excuses from Arteta’s Arsenal, what difference does it make playing home or away in the second leg? That’s why they binned the away goals rule! PSG were rightful winners and blew away all the English sides on their way to smashing Inter in the final, and Arteta said we were the better side over two legs against them, do me a favour! 😀
You must have missed Arsenal beating PSG 2-0 in the group stages of the competition.
No dispute that PSG are a better side and worthy winners of the CL.
Jax,
Although I see what your saying, PSG were a totally different team at the time we played them. When we played them in the knock-out stages, we were found wanting I’m afraid.
Also in the group stage game, an out of form Dembele was dropped completely from their line up if my memory serve’s me correctly.
Dave
Getting rid of the away goals rule was long overdue imo.
Arsenal posed an interesting question. I asked Google the question and apparently there is data to show that Arsenal were right. Different studies show that 63 to 72% win the second leg if it is at home and usually UEFA would give that advantage to the highest place team at the time.
That doesn’t alter the fact that PSG were better but its that much used phrase….fine margins … which can make the difference. On that, we will never know and it doesn’t alter the fact that they were worthy winners against Inter.
I think it’s another example of trying to privilege the better teams – playing the second leg at home does seem to make a difference, but who gets that benefit should be decided at random imo.
I’m not sold on the away goals rule being dropped tbh – I thought it was an elegant system for reducing the chances of matches going to penalties. So far, I think we’ve been lucky not to have had any games go to penalties(unless I’m misremembering?), but to me there’s nothing worse than losing a tie to penalties, and winning on penalties isn’t exactly great either. The stats show that playing home or away makes a difference, so it does make some sense for away goals to count for slightly more in order to break a tie imo.
Davi
I beg to differ which is fine by me. I prefer it the way it is. However, I was interested in your view and did a Wikipedia search which is added below:
“There is empirical evidence that the away goals rule reduces the total number of goals scored during the match and benefits visiting teams in the second leg due to the different perceptions of risk in the first leg and the second leg.”
Also, ” another more unsportsmanlike reason is the fact that in the event of extra time in the second leg, the away team unfairly benefits from extra time to score the more valuable away goal”
I don’t have a problem with the current CL system appearing to benefit the teams that qualified highest. It is a small reward for being excellent
Also, ” another more unsportsmanlike reason is the fact that in the event of extra time in the second leg, the away team unfairly benefits from extra time to score the more valuable away goal”
That’s a really good point – I suppose it also means the home team has their home team advantage for that extra period (so they play 120 mins at home whereas the other side only gets 90 at home), but that happens without the away goals rule. It’s a bit messy either way.
OOPS! SueP,
I have written exactly what you put regarding the Away goals rule.
I must learn to read down more post’s before contributing myself. My bad.🙄🤦♂️😂
SueP,
Regards the Away goals rule. I quite liked it in the main. But the main gripe I had with it was, that the side playing away second gained an advantage regarding the time they had to score an away goal.
The away side in the first leg would have 90 minutes to get an away goal. The team that played the second leg away, had 90 minutes and if it went to extra time, I believe they then had an extra 30 minutes to get an away goal. I’m not sure if this was the reason it was scrapped, and if it was. What took them so long to see the injustice of it in the first place.
Jax, i certainly didn’t miss that result, what a big deal that was, quick get the open top bus parade sorted out, Arsenal beat PSG 2-0 in the group phase, that’s when it really matters! 😀
What’s happening we’ve literally linkto 3 striker in the last 2weeks gyokeres,, sesko and Julian and nothing fruitful while others are màking headway… Pls I need answer if it is bad signning 2 qualities striker like gyokeres and sesko togethe. Imagine that we’re winning everything
LOL
So obvious who would come out in this Article.
🤭
Arsenal will have fans when they win the league and UCL. The comments the fans make,just show what we have in the form of fans. Besides,people like Henry to leave Arteta,alone if they can’t sit down with him and have one,two. What then are they showing us by critising the coach every time they speak. Useless. Arteta is doing great. Let the owner of the team also give money for the purchase of players. If he’s becoming,mean then let’s the reward.
Gyokores to stay I sporting if he’s only keeping the head on United move. Andrea to bring in Julian and Barcola and Simons.