FA and UEFA reject Arsène Wenger’s proposed new offside rule

Wenger first raised the proposal several years ago, attracting widespread attention due to the scale of change it could bring to the game. Under his suggestion, an attacker would only be deemed offside if their entire body was ahead of the second-to-last defender, meaning any overlap would keep the player onside.

The former Arsenal manager believes the change would make football more attractive and increase the number of goals. Speaking previously to beIN Sports, Wenger said: “It was in 1990 after the World Cup in Italy, when there were not enough goals. We decided that there is no offside any more when you are on the same line as the defender. In case of doubt, the doubt benefits the striker.

“That meant when there was a fraction, the striker got the advantage. With VAR, this advantage has 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 IFAB, not by me.”

Despite Wenger’s backing, the FA and UEFA are understood to be strongly opposed to the proposal. According to The Times, officials consider the idea “too drastic” and believe it could result in “huge change” to the sport. FIFA’s acknowledgement that it is reviewing the concept has nevertheless sparked debate across the football world.

Any potential reform would need to be handled with caution, given the importance of the offside rule. One source told The Times: “Is anyone saying there are not enough goals in football? We have to be very careful not to ruin the game. We have not seen any data at all from the limited trials that have taken place of the daylight rule.”

At the same time, criticism of the current interpretation of offside continues to grow. Recent Premier League matches have again highlighted lengthy VAR checks for marginal decisions, prompting frustration from managers and fans and raising questions about the effectiveness of the system.

While FIFA has confirmed it is reviewing possible law changes ahead of future tournaments, including the World Cup, any amendment to the offside rule is unlikely to be introduced in the 2026 tournament in North America. If approved, changes would be expected no earlier than the end of 2026 or tested first in smaller competitions before any global implementation.