ZURICH: FIFA President Sepp Blatter on Friday called for an end to the away goals winner rule in clashes with two matches.

Blatter said the rule favors clubs who play away in the second leg because extra time can give an extra opportunity to get a goal with double value.

“It is time to rethink the system,” Blatter said in a column for the FIFA publication The Week.

Away goals are notably used in the Champions League knockout stages and other European club competitions where it was introduced in 1965.

Where two sides are level after two legs, the team, which has scored more goals away from home go through.

“The idea dates back to a time when away games were often an adventure, involving journeys that could be long and arduous,” said the 78-year-old FIFA leader.

“As well established as the rule is, it can be viewed critically today,” because it favors the team playing away in the 2nd leg.” The system is no longer used in the semifinals of promotion play-offs in the English League. US Major League Soccer and the CONCACAF Champions League in the Americas only count goals scored in the 90 minutes of regulation time.

“Football has progressed since the 1960s so the away goals rule may now be questioned,” said Blatter, who did not propose an alternative.

Debt to financial limits

In London, UEFA could extend its Financial Fair Play regulations to punish heavily-indebted clubs, with possible changes set to be discussed at a meeting with clubs next week.

European football’s governing body requires clubs to approach break-even on football-related business, punishing clubs including Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain whose wealthy owners cover heavy losses.

While Manchester City is debt-free, clubs such as Manchester United and Barcelona, which have heavy liabilities, could fall under any debt-level restrictions added to FFP.

Barcelona’s debt was recently recorded at 287 million euros ($365 million), while Manchester United’s debt resulting from the 2005 leveraged takeover was given as 342 million pounds ($550 million) in the latest accounts. Strong commercial operations help United and Barcelona to finance their debt.

“We are now focused on losses, and to repay the debt is part of the loss that the club can make at the end of the season,” UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino said Thursday in London. “But certainly the question of debt is something that can be put on the table.” That is due to happen on Monday at a meeting UEFA is hosting with clubs.

Infantino confirmed an impending rule change in the Champions League, with top-seed status only to given to the winners of the highest-ranked leagues and the titleholder. The group-stage change just has to be ratified in December by UEFA’s executive committee, Infantino said.

“People had difficulties in understanding how the champion of a country is in a lower pot than the third ranked in that country,” Infantino said.

Currently, UEFA ranks clubs over five years of results, leaving national champions Man City, Juventus and PSG among No. 2-seeded teams this season. Arsenal and FC Porto, who placed fourth and third in their respective leagues last season, were included in Pot 1, so avoided stronger teams such as Barcelona and Real Madrid in the group-stage draw.

The countries given top-seed status were Spain, England, Germany, Italy, Portugal, France and Russia, with the eighth place in the pot assigned to the holders.

Infantino was speaking at the Leaders’ Sport Business Summit in London.