Manchester City‘s Champions League campaign could have a different dimension next season after UEFA confirmed they have abolished the away goals rule from European competition.

On Thursday, it was confirmed that all UEFA club competitions across the men’s, women’s and youth groups can no longer be decided on away goals starting from the coming season after earning the seal of approval from the executive committee.

Alexander Ceferin, Uefa’s president, stated that the decision to abolish the rule had been taken as a matter of “fairness”, suggesting that it had become outdated since its inception in 1965.

It’s a controversial move for a part of the game that has resulted in considerable drama and has had a long-standing say in the makeup of Europe’s cup competitions.

It means that from next season, matches in the Champions League, Europa League and Uefa’s inaugural competition, the Europa Conference League, will be settled by different means.

From now on, if the scores are level at the end of two matches, there will be an additional 30 minute period of extra-time played followed by penalties if no further goals are scored.

Manchester City fans will be all-too familiar with the rule at the top level of European football, having previously been knocked out of the Champions League on two occassions via the rule in question.

Pep Guardiola’s side fell to defeat via the away goals rule against AS Monaco in the 2016/2017 season, and again against Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham Hotspur side in the 2018/2019 campaign.

There was a mixed reaction from Man City fans to the news on social media:

Bit late to benefit us! #MCFC
— Maurice Kilbride (@MauriceKilbride) June 24, 2021

Yep. Let the better team go through.
— Sir Choate. (@Ibnwalee) June 24, 2021

So we might actually win the ucl and not bottle… nice
— Oliver 🇮🇹🇮🇹 (@Olly4756) June 24, 2021

Wouldn't be unfair for a team playing second to have 30 minutes of extra time at home?
— 1110 (@ezhan_javed) June 24, 2021

Made the game more entertaining but at least we now have higher chance of winning it.
— Darren (@mcfc_darren) June 24, 2021

This rewards the better team. Period. None of that weird, irrelevant, nonsense. Now City just has to win their ties.
— Ngozulu 📿 🇩🇴 (@ngozulumatondo) June 24, 2021