Arsene Wenger's 'offside revolution' poised for major breakthrough as FIFA & Gianni Infantino set to present rule change to IFAB
Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger's groundbreaking proposed offside rule changes are on the verge of becoming a reality as FIFA and president Gianni Infantino gear up to present the revisions to the IFAB. Wenger's radical approach aims to redefine what constitutes an offside offense by allowing attackers to remain onside if any part of their body is level with the last defender. The proposal is scheduled for thorough evaluation at the upcoming IFAB annual meeting in London and subsequent debate at the General Assembly in Wales.
Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger's new 'offside revolution' plans are set to take a step closer to reality as FIFA and president Gianni Infantino are preparing a presentation of the proposed rule change to the IFAB. Wenger has pushed for a radical change to the offside law for some time, advocating for a change that would see an offside offence only occur if the attacker is completely in front of the last defender. The annual meeting of the IFAB is set to take place on January 20th in London and will see Wenger's proposals examined thoroughly, according to AS. The proposal is also due to be debated at the General Assembly in Wales in February. Wenger, who is now FIFA's Director of Global Football Development, wants to make a radical change to the offside law which would benefit attackers as it would mean they are onside if any part of their body is in line with the last outfield defender.He outlined the proposal back in 2020, saying: "There is room to change the rule and not say that a part of a player’s nose is offside, so you are offside because you can score with that. Instead, you will be not offside if any part of the body that can score a goal is in line with the last defender, even if other parts of the attacker’s body are in front. That will sort it out and you will no longer have decisions about millimetres and a fraction of the attacker being in front of the defensive line."Wenger has previously spoken about his plan and why he wants to make a change to the offside rule. The former Arsenal boss feels that attackers have suffered following the introduction of VAR which has not gone down well with supporters. Wenger also noted how a similar change was made after the 1990 World Cup which saw the lowest goals average in the history of the tournament."It was in 1990 after the World Cup in Italy when there were no goals scored," Wenger told Bein Sports. "We decided that there is no offside any more when you are on the same line of the defender. In case of doubt, the doubt benefits the striker. That means when there's a fraction, the striker did get the advantage. With VAR this advantage disappeared and for many people it's frustrating. That's why I proposed that as long as any part of your body is on the same line as the defender, you're not offside. We are experimenting with it now. In one year, the decision will be made, by the IFAB, not by me." Looking for smarter football bets? Get expert previews, data-driven predictions & winning insights with GOAL Tips on Telegram. Join our growing community now!FIFA president Gianni Infantino has hinted that Wenger's plan could get the green light. Speaking at the World Sports Summit, he said: "Let’s take the example of the offside law, which has evolved over the years. Maybe in the future, [attackers] will need to be completely ahead of the defender to be offside."Trials have already taken place, with a FIFA spokesperson telling The Times in 2024: "The discussion around changing the offside law is not new and it is not something we will see introduced at higher levels imminently. The idea was first discussed in 2020 as we felt it was something worth exploring and testing to see the effect it could have on the game. Fifa committed to trialling the amended offside law, favouring the attacker, which has been applied in selected youth competitions across Europe. We will continue with these trials, assess the results and discuss with all relevant stakeholders."Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reportingWenger's plan has been met by criticism already by former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher. He posted on X: "This will be terrible for the game as teams will defend completely differently than we see now. Lots of low blocks & teams being negative."Wenger's plan has already created plenty of debate but will now be scrutinised thoroughly in the coming months. The current thinking is that if it is approved, it could be put in place by the start of the 2026-27 season.
Arsene Wenger's Vision for Offside Rule Change
Arsene Wenger, FIFA's Director of Global Football Development, has long advocated for an overhaul of the offside law to address the contentious issue of marginal offside decisions that have plagued the game in the era of VAR. His proposed change would see attackers considered onside if any part of their body that can legally score a goal is in line with the last defender, eliminating the debate around minor infringements.
Support for the Proposed Change
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has expressed openness to Wenger's suggested modifications, hinting at a potential shift towards requiring attackers to be entirely ahead of the defender to be deemed offside. Trials of the revised rule have already been implemented in select youth competitions across Europe, with feedback and results being closely monitored.
Criticism and Debate
While Wenger's proposal has drawn praise from some quarters for its potential to enhance attacking opportunities and minimize controversial offside calls, it has also faced criticism. Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has raised concerns about the impact of the rule change on defensive strategies, predicting a rise in more negative, defensive playstyles.
Timeline and Potential Implementation
The proposed offside rule adjustment is slated for comprehensive scrutiny in the upcoming months, with a possible implementation targeted for the beginning of the 2026-27 season if approved. The IFAB's deliberations and assessments following the discussions are expected to shape the future landscape of offside decisions in football.





