Wenger's football revolution collapsing! Radical offside rule faces almost certain rejection
Arsène Wenger's ambitious attempt to revolutionise football's offside rule has suffered a major setback! The former Arsenal manager's controversial proposal could be abandoned after an experiment in Canada failed to convince key football lawmakers.
Details: On October 27, The Touchline reported that Wenger's proposed offside reform had a 95% chance of being scrapped. However, that percentage has not been officially confirmed. Reports from the International Football Association Board's assessment meetings indicate that the proposal received little support from technical experts and former referees. The experiment is now unlikely to be extended, although no final decision has been announced.
The so-called Wenger rule would consider an attacker offside only when their entire body is ahead of the second-last opposing player. Unlike the current interpretation, a forward could remain onside even with most of their body beyond the defender, provided some legal scoring part remained level. FIFA launched a professional trial in the Canadian Premier League in April 2026.
The Canadian experiment produced mixed results. Across 112 matches, offside decisions reportedly decreased by 54%, while 13 additional goals were recorded. However, defensive lines retreated by an average of three metres as teams adapted to the greater attacking advantage. Experts also raised concerns about defending set pieces and whether the system could work effectively in competitions without advanced video technology.
It's worth noting that Wenger introduced the concept in 2020 while serving as FIFA's chief of global football development. UEFA and representatives of English football had previously expressed reservations about the radical proposal. IFAB is also considering less dramatic alternatives, including judging offside using the player's torso. Any worldwide change would require formal approval, and the existing offside law remains in force.
Reminder: Arsène Wenger's offside rule set for real-world testing. Which league has given the green light?
Miguel Solomons
Dailysports's expert
