Arsène Wenger’s new offside rule used for the first time as fans are left divided

Former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger’s “daylight” offside rule has been used for the first time in a competitive match – and fans aren’t quite sure what to make of it.

Since taking up the position of FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development in 2019, Wenger, who managed Arsenal between 1996 and 2018, has put forward several ideas he believes could improve the modern game.

One of the changes he has supported is an alteration to the offside law, which has been dubbed the “daylight” offside rule.

The daylight rule means an attacker can only be offside if there is a clear gap – or “daylight” – between them and the last defender. Even if part of the attacker’s body is in a traditional offside position, play continues as normal under the new regulation.

The Frenchman first proposed the change around six years ago, although the traditional offside rule has remained in place until now.

However, Wenger’s rule has been trialled by the Canadian Premier League, with the first goal allowed under the experimental rule coming on Saturday, as Pacific FC striker Alejandro Díaz scored in a 2–2 draw against Halifax Wanderers.

The goal would have been ruled out under the traditional International Football Association Board (IFAB) rules.

Speaking about the daylight rule in a previous interview, Wenger explained: “In case of doubt, the doubt benefits the striker. That means when there’s a fraction, the striker does get the advantage. With VAR, this advantage has disappeared and, for many people, it’s frustrating.

“That’s why I proposed that, as long as any part of your body is on the same line as the defender, you’re not offside.”

But what do fans think?

Thousands have viewed the new rule in action, and it’s fair to say supporters are divided.

After watching the rule used in the Canadian Premier League, one said: “It’s taken one goal to show how stupid a rule change this would be. One, it’s still a line decision given by a millimetre, so it changes nothing. Two, it’s going to force defenders further and further back until there are lines of defenders playing so deep that the game becomes unwatchable.”

Another added: “Pointless. No real change to the interpretation of offside. Making it harder for officials on the pitch. Bin this idea now and revert to the law the rest of the world is using.”

A third claimed: “Imagine being an assistant referee in a non-VAR or grassroots league. It’s easy to see a white shirt is ahead of a blue shirt. It’s virtually impossible to see daylight with the movement of eight to ten players. Wenger – good coach, awful rule inventor.”