Arsene Wenger’s new offside rule was the talk of fans on Saturday as Pacific FC in Canada scored the first goal from such a scenario.
Last year, Wenger proposed a radical new rule that would see attackers called onside if any part of their body is in line with a defender – even if they are technically offside.
At the time, the former Arsenal boss, 76, who now works as FIFA’s head of global football development, hit out at the impact of ‘frustrating’ VAR on offside calls and said the new law needs to return the ‘advantage’ to attackers.
It is the latest of a raft of controversial changes, including a biennial World Cup and changing throw-ins to kick-ins in the final five minutes of the game, suggested by the Frenchman.
The rule is being trialled in the Canadian Premier League this season and Alejandro Diaz’s first-half strike for Pacific against Halifax Wanderers was the first time a team has scored from the ‘Arsene Wenger rule’, as it has been dubbed.
Diaz was clearly offside in usual football rules when he pounced on a rebound as the keeper parried the ball out, but with the adapted regulations he was not penalised as part of his body was in line with a Halifax defender.
The alteration to the law means that as long as there is no visible gap or ‘daylight’ between the attacker and the last defender, then the forward player will be onside.
However, it was a decision that got fans talking with several taking a strong stance on both sides of the argument.
One social media user said: ‘Of the many things that will ruin football, changing the offside law to this will be one of them.’
Another added: ‘I’m actually glad it’s being trialled. Watching this, it confirms what a lot of people suspected, it’s just not right, all it does is create goalhangers and change football entirely.’
An extra disgruntled supporter said: ‘Load of rubbish. Just moves the line and now it’s daylight!! So even harder to review. Will just encourage defences to play deeper. Stop changing rules to accommodate VAR. Just scrap VAR!’
A further user quipped: ‘He’s well offside! I’m not sure the idea of the daylight rule is to benefit players who are just too slow to get back onside from a set piece,’ before a fifth fan said: ‘There will be chaos with this rule. Player is clearly offside.’
Nevertheless, some users welcomed the change, as one said: ‘Have always wanted this. Rather than “is any part of the attacker offside”, ask “is any part of the attacker onside”.’
An extra supporter added: ‘Much better,’ with one other saying: ‘This makes more sense than the current rule.’
When explaining his proposal last year, Wenger had said: ‘In 1990 we decided that [there is] no offside anymore when you are on the same line [as the defender].
‘In case of doubt the doubt benefits the striker. That means when there’s a fraction – the striker could get the advantage.
‘With VAR this advantage disappeared… It’s frustrating. That’s why I propose that as long as any part of your body is on the same line as the defender then you are not offside.’
