FIFA Set To Trial New ‘Wenger Offside Rule’ From Next Season2 min read
FIFA are ready to trial a change to the offside rule which could alter the face of modern football.
An idea put forward by Premier League icon Arsene Wenger is set to go to test in Italy, Sweden and the Netherlands which changes the part of the body used for offside lines.
The current guidelines state that a player is offside when they are in the opponent’s half of the pitch and any scoring part of the body is closer to the goal than the second-last rival player – which usually includes the goalkeeper.
The tweak to the rules will see an attacking player be considered onside if any part of their body is behind the second-last opponent.
That will be a huge benefit to the attacking side, with players able to hold a leg back while still having an advantage on the defender with the attacking foot or head.
Wenger, who is currently serving as FIFA’s chief of global football development, will be keeping a keen eye on proceedings as the new rule goes to test.
Some fans have called for the change in the past – wanting to see ‘clear daylight’ between defender and attacker for it to be deemed an unfair advantage.
Wenger presented his plans to the International Football Association Board back in 2021, before an initial trial in the Chinese lower divisions.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino then said: “We have been seeing that maybe we can think about a new law which allows a bit more attack in football.
“Arsene Wenger presented to us today as well what this could look like and obviously, in summary, it is if the attacking player is ahead of the last defender, or second-last player, but still with one part of the body that can score inline with the defender.
“So it is giving the attacking player a bit more room and so favouring attacking football.
“Obviously such a change would need to be tested. We have to see what kind of impact this will have on the game – if positive, if negative.
“If it is positive, we might go ahead. If it is negative, we step back. But we are always here, like we did for VAR, to be open to new ideas and if we can make football even more attacking, even more passionate, then we certainly look into that.”
