Football is facing one of its greatest revolutions.
Video referee, handball rule – and now the offside? In recent years there have been repeated changes to the basic pillars of the game regulations. After the handball rule was revised several times, the referees were provided with a digital assistant with the video cellar in Cologne, the complete statics of the football game could now change with a new rule.
Fifa will test a proposal from ex-Arsenal coach Arsène Wenger (73), who has been head of global football development at the world association for four years. Accordingly, a player would only be offside if his entire body is closer to the opponent’s goal than the last outfield player of the opposing team at the time the ball is played off.
Means: If a player of the attacking team has already gained a small lead, but one of his feet is still at the level of a body part of his opponent, the scene would not be punished in the future. An XXL difference to the current rule!
This states that a player is offside if, at the time the ball is played off, he is closer to the opponent’s goal than the last field player with any part of his body that can be used to score a goal – i.e. anything other than arms and hands. Now the rule, which has existed for several years, could be revolutionized.
Suddenly the brakes failed Rollover horror at 280 km/h!
The Wenger idea is to be tested in the Italian, Dutch and Swedish leagues. The suggestion should be well received by the strikers – rather less by the defenders. While offensive forces would get even more leeway in tightening the sprint, defensive players would need to be even more vigilant.
Experts expect that while the change could result in more goals, many teams will also be more defensive.
However, the idea should not be an end to the long waiting times for video evidence. Reason: Checking whether a player’s heel was still level with the defender will take just as long as checking a scene in which an attacker’s forehead was supposedly closer to the goal than his opponent.
It remains to be seen whether the rule revolution will really take place.