Sepp Blatter argues it is time to 'rethink' the rule, which applies in the Champions League and Europa League.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter has called for a rethink on the away-goals rule and questioned whether the method for settling knockout games still makes sense.

The system, which sees the team that has scored the most goals away from home win the tie if scores are level, has been used since 1965 in European competition and still applies in the UEFA Champions League and Europa League.

Blatter claims the rule favours teams playing away from home in the second leg because those games can go to extra time, meaning more time to score an away goal.

In his column in the FIFA Weekly magazine, which is being published on Friday, Blatter pointed out the rule was scrapped in England's Championship playoffs in 2000.

Blatter says: "It is time to rethink the system. Football has progressed since the 1960s, so the away goals rule may now be questioned. Does the away goals rule still make sense?

"The idea dates back to a time when away games were often an adventure, involving journeys that could be long and arduous, and the playing conditions would vary considerably.

"In reality, it favours the club that play away from home in the second leg. Where the scores are tied, that team has 30 minutes more than their opponent to score a valuable away goal. After all, in the first leg there is no extra time.

"Such an imbalance has already been disposed of in various competitions. The away goals rule is no longer used in the semifinals of the promotion playoffs in English football."

Blatter suggested a modification could be used such as in employed in MLS playoffs and in the CONCACAF Champions League in which away goals only count "double" until the end of normal time in the second leg and not in extra time.