Revealed: Arsene Wenger to push for 'radical' change to offside rule after encouraging trial results - which could give attackers a huge advantage

Wenger currently works as FIFA's chief of global football development and is keen to amend the offside law after being "convinced" his proposal works following trials in Italy, Sweden and the Netherlands, according to The Times. Under Wenger's proposal there must be "daylight" between the attacker and defender for an offside offence to occur. If any part of the attacker's body, from which they can score, is in line with the last defender then this is considered onside. The former Arsenal manager plans to make the proposal to the the International FA Board (IFAB) and is hopeful it can be adopted quickly.

The current offside rule continues to cause controversy and yield contentious decisions despite the introduction of VAR. Yet Wenger's proposal may face opposition as there are concens it will "give too much advantage" to attackers, according to the report. Former Real Madrid and Barcelona star Luis Figo, who is the head of UEFA's Football Board, is said to be against the proposal and Wenger's plan may have to be trialled again in a competition that uses VAR before any changes to the law are adopted.

Former Arsenal and FA vice-president David Dein has backed the idea. He told a FIFA Congress in Bangkok earlier in May: "The offside rule has to change as it is too contentious and problematic. Arsene’s idea is refreshingly innovative."

Wenger has been working on the proposal for four years and said the following back in 2020 about the offside rule: “There is room to change the rule and not say that a part of a player’s nose is offside, so you are offside because you can score with that. Instead, you will be not offside if any part of the body that can score a goal is in line with the last defender, even if other parts of the attacker’s body are in front. That will sort it out and you will no longer have decisions about millimetres and a fraction of the attacker being in front of the defensive line."

Premier League clubs will see changes to offside decisions next season with semi-automated technology to be used in the English top flight for the first time. The system has already been used in the World Cup 2022 and in the Champions League and Serie A. Any further changes to the offside rule must wait for IFAB approval.