Wenger outlines potential change to offside law | OneFootball

Arsene Wenger has suggested an alteration to the offside regulation that would allow attackers to be considered onside if any part of their body aligns with the final outfield defender.

Wenger, who serves as Fifa’s chief of global football development, believes the modification would return a degree of benefit to attacking players - an edge many argue was diminished with the introduction of the video assistant referee (VAR).

Under current laws, a player is ruled offside if any part of their body (excluding hands and arms) extends beyond the last defender.

The ex-Arsenal boss drew a parallel between his proposal and a similar adjustment made following the 1990 World Cup.

At Italia '90, and in earlier tournaments, players were penalised for being offside even if they were level with the final defender, which contributed to a record-low goal average in World Cup history.

"It was in 1990 after the World Cup in Italy when there were no goals scored," Wenger told Bein Sports, recalling the rule change.

"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."

Pilot programs testing the proposed interpretation have already begun in youth leagues in Italy. Wenger noted that more trials are expected ahead of a potential implementation, possibly by 2026.

The authority to implement any revision to the offside rule lies with the International Football Association Board (Ifab), football’s rule-making organisation.