Wenger Leads the Revolution of the New Offside Rule

Testing Imminent according to FIFA President Gianni Infantino

Evolution of Refereeing: IFAB's Response to Football's Demands

Refereeing is constantly evolving and changing to adapt to the demands of Football. The International Football Association Board (IFAB), an organization dependent on FIFA and responsible for all matters related to refereeing, strives to keep up with the evolving nature of the sport. Gianni Infantino, the FIFA president, has granted significant prominence to IFAB and its occasionally daring decisions.

A More Offensive Approach: Wenger's Proposal to Change the Offside Rule

At the beginning of each season, IFAB introduces changes and conducts experiments that eventually become part of the actual rules. The anticipated next revolution, as revealed by MARCA, is spearheaded by Arsene Wenger and focuses on modifying the offside rule. After listening to all the stakeholders, Wenger proposed his idea to IFAB, suggesting it be tested in upcoming weeks in various countries, including Italy and Sweden.

 

From Idea to Reality: FIFA's Tests and Implementation of Wenger's Proposal

Infantino approached the FIFA development director, seeking improvements that would benefit offensive Football. Wenger, inspired by a Premier League study indicating a potential reduction in offside calls, believes he has found a solution. His proposal revolves around allowing the striker to be ahead of the defender, provided they maintain contact with a body part that can score a goal in line with the last defender. IFAB sources authorized by MARCA confirmed that measures such as reducing the offside margin to five or six centimeters are under study, with the potential to make the game more offensive.

The initiative to change the offside rule began in 2021 and is now taking shape through FIFA's ongoing tests. The initial steps resemble the processes undertaken in the past, such as the implementation of Video Assistant Referee (VAR), semi-automatic offside rulings, and other innovative measures introduced in recent years. Infantino has consistently expressed his desire for change, aiming for a more offensive style of Football. He stated, "In 135 years of history, the offside rule has been altered only twice. Arsene Wenger has presented us with a possibility: no offside if the striker is in an offside position, but a body part with which they can score a goal is in line with the defense. This change would lead to a much more offensive style of football." 

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