Arsene Wenger’s persistent appeals for a revision of the offside rules are set to make progress as FIFA, the global governing body for football, prepares to trial new proposals.
Wenger, who currently holds the position of Chief of Global Football Development at FIFA since his departure from Arsenal in 2018, has been advocating for changes to the offside rules.
The current interpretation often results in players being judged offside when any part of their body capable of playing the ball is ahead of the last defender.
This has led to lengthy VAR checks and disallowed goals due to minimal margins.
The forthcoming trial of the new proposals indicates that Wenger’s efforts to reform the offside rules may be gaining traction.
What is Wenger proposing?
The legendary former manager wants the whole body of a player, not just a part, to be ahead of the last defender for it to be deemed as offside.
FIFA is now set to heed to Wenger’s proposals, with Sweden becoming the first league to put the proposed changes to use. As Sports Joe reports, the country’s men’s U-21 and women’s U-19 leagues will use the new rules before it moves to other leagues in the Netherlands and in Italy.
After the trial, FIFA will sit down to discuss its impact and possible adoption before it is forwarded to the International Football Association Board(IFAB) which approves any permanent rules of the game.
Inside the changes to Ballon d’Or rules
Sports Brief has previously reported that The 2023 Ballon d’Or debate has already shaped into a battle between an existing superstar and one of his heir apparent.
At 35 years old, Lionel Messi is still in the running to win the individual prize and remains a strong candidate to win a record-extending eighth title, but Erling Haaland is set to have a say as well.
L’Equipe, the magazine responsible for organising the annual gala where the best individual performances are feted, announced changes to the Ballon d’Or rules in 2021, shortly after Messi had clinched his 7th gong.