Another major change to football’s Laws of the Game is on the horizon. FIFA and the International Football Association Board (IFAB) are seriously considering a fundamental overhaul of the offside rule. The initiative comes from Arsène Wenger, the renowned former head coach of London’s Arsenal.
Under the proposed new rule, an offside would be called only if a player is completely past the last defender with their entire body. This is expected to reduce millimetre-tight controversies under the current interpretation and give attackers more freedom. Experts say the change could positively affect the game’s tempo and increase the number of goals.
Reports say IFAB will discuss Wenger’s proposal at its annual meeting in London on 20 January. In February, the idea is expected to be placed on the General Assembly agenda. If approved, the new offside rule could be officially introduced from the 2026/2027 season.
It is worth noting that Arsène Wenger has been working within FIFA since 2019 as Director of Football Development. His initiative matters not only for simplifying the rules, but also for making football more entertaining and fair. If the plans go ahead, a completely new offside era could begin on pitches in the coming years.
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