IFAB support lacking for Wenger offside plan, 2026 World Cup future in doubt | OneFootball

Arsène Wenger’s proposed rewrite of the offside law is at a critical juncture after IFAB’s meeting in London, with insufficient backing leaving its use at international tournaments, including the 2026 World Cup, in doubt.

According to Superdeporte, the so-called Wenger law would judge a forward offside only if their entire body is beyond the second-last defender, taking limbs such as arms or feet out of the equation.

The aim is to reduce millimetre calls, promote attacking football and reward forwards’ invention, a vision Wenger, FIFA’s chief of global football development, has long championed and now seeks to embed worldwide.

The lack of consensus underlines how hard it is to alter historic laws and their interpretation by referees and video assistants. As other possible tweaks are explored, the proposal appears to have slipped down the agenda.

Backers argue it would allow more goals and prevent legitimate moves being chalked off by marginal decisions. Critics warn it could trigger deeper defensive lines and unsettle the balance between attack and defence.

IFAB is also weighing changes linked to video review and penalty-area grey areas. Without agreement, the plan could be shelved and the current offside law would remain.

For now, the measure sits in limbo, its fate tied to IFAB’s ability to balance innovation with tradition and to pressure from clubs, leagues and national teams.

Source: Superdeporte