International Football Association Board (IFAB), the independent law-making authority for world soccer, is reportedly debating whether to significantly alter the offside rule.



The newly proposed rule is said to align closely with the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/fifa-testing-controversial-new-offside-rule-says-report-20230913-WST-456011.html">recommendations put forth by renowned manager Arsene Wenger</a>.



With the establishment of the Video assistant referee (VAR), the offside regulation has been updated and clarified in recent years, although it has remained mostly unchanged for decades.



<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/ex-premier-league-coach-advocates-for-abandoning-var-20231112-WST-469550.html">VAR</a> has allowed for a far more thorough investigation of possible offsides. Because of this, many goals are disallowed because an attacker’s toe or bent knee puts them in an offside position.



The meticulous investigation of infractions and their impact on games has become more irritating to fans. The system was intended to be in place to address ‘clear and obvious errors’ made by the referees. But rather than doing that, it has been used for the sole purpose of finding fault in them.



It has not only ignited debates among soccer pundits and fans but has also led to controversial decisions in actual soccer matches.



<h2>What does ‘Wenger law’ mean?</h2>



In accordance with the <a href="https://www.theifab.com/laws/latest/offside/#offside-position" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">current IFAB regulation</a>, offside is defined as: “Any part of the head, body and feet is nearer to the opponents’ goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent.” In layman’s terms, if any part of the attacking player’s body, that he can score with, is ahead of the last defender, he is ruled offside.”



Put another way, offside is called when any part of a player’s body that may score (except hands and arms) is in front of the second-to-last opponent. The underarm region is the only other section of a player’s body that may be considered offside.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="439" height="598" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20231119_WST_471389_image-8.webp&amp;width=439&amp;height=598" alt="" class="wp-image-471402" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/image-8.png 439w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/image-8-220x300.png 220w" sizes="(max-width: 439px) 100vw, 439px"></figure><figcaption>Graphic representation of proposed Wenger’s law by IFAB</figcaption></figure>



Due to VAR’s questionable choices, particularly in high-stakes scenarios, this has become a hotly debated topic. However, Arsene Wenger, former manager of Arsenal and current acting FIFA president of global football development, has proposed modifying the offside rule.



He wants to loosen the rules a little for the strikers so that goals aren’t called back for minor infractions that provide no meaningful benefit to the defense. It has been reported by Spanish newspaper, <a href="https://twitter.com/centregoals/status/1725848526444245349?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Marca</a> that the Frenchman wants the rule changed such that the attacker’s complete body must be in front of the final defender for a goal to be scored.



However, the ex-<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/arsenal-tv-schedule/">Arsenal</a> coach wants the regulation clarified so that an attacker whose foot is slightly “offside” would not be called offside.



<h2>When could leagues start using it?</h2>



Football fans in the highest divisions would probably be relieved by the plan since it would put an end to the time-consuming assessments of various body parts by VAR. However, this would also add a subjective aspect to the proceedings, which might potentially increase the debate surrounding the usage of VAR in the long run.



According to the proposal, the modification will be implemented in time for the 2024-25 season if it receives approval.



The new offside regulation, dubbed “the Wenger Law,” will be tried out for the first time in Sweden’s under-21 men’s league and under-19 women’s league. Both the Netherlands and Italy have committed to testing out the Wenger Law in the future



Wenger first introduced the revised offside rule to the IFAB in 2021, with testing occurring in the lower tiers of Chinese soccer leagues the following year.



Photo credit: IMAGO / PA Images

IFAB contemplate major offside rule change for next season

Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has allegedly recommended that IFAB make a big alteration to the offside regulation for the next season.

IFAB contemplate major offside rule change for next season - World Soccer Talk

<div><figure class="image"></figure></div>
Soccer’s rules seem fairly straightforward, right?
Kick the ball into the opponent’s net. Prevent the opponent from kicking the ball into your net. Do not use your hands. Throw-ins and corner-kicks when the ball goes out of bounds.
However, there are <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/beginners-guide-to-soccer-rules/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">those other rules</a> that can stump all fans.
The offside rule. The back-pass rule. Direct and indirect free-kicks. Stoppage time.
We have all been in conversations trying to explain all these peculiar rules to blank faces from our friends or family members. In addition to that, we debate fellow soccer fans regarding things like VAR, embellishment or handballs.
Since its inception in the 19th century, soccer’s rules changed periodically to create the game we love today. Here are some rules that leave us questioning certain decisions by the referee or wondering why things happen in a certain way.
<h3>Soccer’s rules and the penalty box</h3>
Not all infringements inside the penalty box result in penalty kicks.
For example, the back-pass rule leads to an indirect free kick inside the area. As a relatively new addition to soccer’s rules, established in 1992, the back-pass rule served as a way to eliminate time-wasting strategies. Also, the rule requires goalkeepers to be better suited with their feet than previous generations.
This rule prohibits the goalkeeper from handling a ball that has been deliberately kicked to him by a teammate. If the goalkeeper does handle the point, an indirect free-kick is awarded in the penalty area rather than a penalty kick.
<div id="attachment_342650" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignright"><div><figure class="image"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-342650" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-342650 size-medium" src="https:\/\/ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https:\/\/images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/WST_20210820_WST_342649_Penalty-kick-300x200.webp&amp;width=300&amp;height=200" alt="" width="300" height="200" srcset="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/08/Penalty-kick-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/08/Penalty-kick-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/08/Penalty-kick-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/08/Penalty-kick-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/08/Penalty-kick.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px"></figure></div>Defenders and attackers remain outside the 18-yard box during a penalty kick.</div>
The free-kick is taken from the spot where the ball was handled, unless the goalkeeper handled it within his/her six-yard box. In this case, the free kick is taken from the point on the six-yard line closest to the infringement. Therefore, we see two uses of the six-yard box. On one hand, it is the farthest distance allowed to place the ball on a goal kick. On the other, it is the holding point for an indirect free kick.
We also all notice the&nbsp;D&nbsp;shape on the 18-yard box. The reason for that is penalty kicks. During a spot kick, defenders and attackers (apart from the one taking the kick) should be at least 10 yards away from the penalty spot.
The circular outer line of the D is exactly 10 yards from the penalty kick. No player is allowed to occupy this D during a penalty kick apart from the penalty taker.
Soccer’s rules always get quirky as play approaches the penalty box, just as they do in the offensive half.
<h3>The offside rule</h3>
When you ask a casual fan about soccer’s rules, they often say the only one they struggle with is the offside rule.
At its core, the rule implies that no attacker can be behind the opposition’s defensive line at the time a pass or shot is played. Unsurprisingly, there are slight implications that occur in reality.
For one, the offside rule does not apply during a throw-in.&nbsp;Moreover, the offside rule actually only applies in the opposition half. If the defense finds themselves in the opposition’s half, the halfway line becomes the offside line.
<a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/soccer-beginners-guides/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">READ MORE</a>: Beginner’s guides to soccer leagues from around the world.
The rules state that for an attacker to be in an offside position, they must be closer to the opponents’ goal line than “both the ball and the second-last opponent” (taken from Law 11 of FIFA’s laws of the game). This means that it is not simply the last defender, as is commonly believed.
If the goalkeeper is caught outside his/her goal and the attacker receiving the ball just has one opposing outfield opponent ahead of him, then they are offside.
This is a rare occurrence, but it happened in a significant game in 2013. In a <a href="https:\/\/www.bbc.com/sport/football/22070025" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UEFA Champions League quarterfinal between Málaga and Borussia Dortmund</a>, the winning goal should not have counted. Felipe Santana’s stoppage-time winner should have been ruled offside. Santana found himself past the goalie with just one Málaga defender in front of him as he bundled the ball in.
Current modifications like VAR would prevent something like that in the modern game. However, soccer’s rules benefitted Dortmund that day, helping them reach the Champions League Final.

Soccer is, at its core, a simple game. However, soccer's rules can be confusing due to the intracacies and picky nature that many of the rules get into.

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Arsene Wenger

IFAB contemplate major offside rule change for next season

rules

Soccer's rules that leave almost all fans befuddled