FIRST of all a correction. Our match report yesterday on the big match in Edinburgh said that away goals count double in the event of a draw over the two legs of the SPFL Premiership play-off between Hibs and Falkirk.
That is wrong, and the author has been punished by being forced to drink hemlock, as opposed to his usual Chateau Lafite.
The correct rules are that for all SPFL play-offs, away goals do not count double. In the event of both teams having scored the same number of goals, there is extra time and if at the end of that period there is still equality of goals then the tie is decided on penalties.
For the avoidance of doubt here is the exact wording: “The winning club in each of the ties will be the club to score the greatest number of goals over the two matches in each tie. In the event that the aggregate scores are equal after the second leg of each tie, extra-time of 30 minutes (i.e. 15 minutes each way) will take place and thereafter if necessary kicks from the penalty mark will be taken in accordance with the rules laid down by the International Football Association Board which will determine the winner.”
Which brings us very nicely to the point – why on earth do away goals not count double in the event of a drawn tie?
It is just utter nonsense to fans long used to the away goals rule – it means that Hibs can go to Falkirk tomorrow night and if they get a 0-0 draw over 90 minutes they will still be in the tie with a chance of going through in extra time or on penalties.
Falkirk’s tremendous feat of going to Easter Road and coming away with a 2-2 scoreline, especially when Hibs had enough chances to put themselves out of sight, will count for nothing if Hibs achieve any kind of parity – though of course the Leithers may win outright, and you can imagine their ire if the score is 3-3 and Falkirk win in extra time or on penalties.
Everyone in football knows how much more difficult it is to win or draw away from home. In their knockout competitions involving two legs of one tie, Fifa and Uefa accept the principle of away goals counting double, but not the high and mighty SPFL.
They may argue that the play-offs are merely an extension of the leagues and points are shared when goal tallies are even, but frankly that’s tosh – when we move into play-offs we are in knock-out territory.
In adopting this format the SPFL have just slavishly copied the English football league again and bent over backwards to accommodate their real masters – the broadcasters.
Here’s an interesting fact – the English play-offs did have away goals counting double until Ipswich Town lost out on away goals twice in three years, 1997 and 1999, and their boss David Sheepshanks got the rules changed.
The chief executive of Ipswich Town’s neighbours Norwich City at the time was none other than current SPFL boss Neil Doncaster. Wonder where he got the no away goals idea? Can’t we do things a Scottish way?
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