Is Wenger's daylight idea the solution to fix offside?

"Arsene Wenger's offside law proposal has been debated for a long time. Six years, in fact. It will be on the agenda again on Tuesday when the International Football Association Board (Ifab) meets to discuss potential changes for next season. But the law is no closer to being altered than it was in 2020. That is despite controversial "microscopic" VAR decisions, ruling to the millimetre. Or are we only talking about changing the law because of them?"

"Think Coventry's dramatic goal in time added on at the end of extra time against Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final two years ago. Had it stood, Coventry would have won 4-3. Instead, they lost on penalties. VAR stripped away what would have been one of the most iconic goals in the competition's history. Still, should the very fabric of the game at all levels be changed because of VAR? And how realistic is it that Wenger's law will be adopted?"

"Wenger was appointed Fifa's chief of global football development in November 2019. One of his key remits was to find ways to promote attacking play. Within weeks he had presented his plan to revolutionise offside: visual separation - or, as it is more commonly known, daylight between players. The former Arsenal manager says that if "any part of your body is on the same line as the defender, you're not offside". In other words, there needs to be a complete gap between the attacker and the second-to-last opposition player - effectively the last defender, given the goalkeeper's usual positioning."

A proposal would alter offside to require a visible gap — 'daylight' — between an attacker and the second-to-last defender, meaning any part of an attacker's body in line with the defender would be onside. The change aims to promote attacking play and reduce ultra-close VAR offside decisions decided to the millimetre. Controversial VAR rulings have reignited debate, highlighted by Coventry's disallowed late FA Cup semi-final goal that would have avoided penalties. Offside has been modified only twice since 1863, with the 1990 change responding to overly defensive football. The law currently underpins tactics and the game's structure.

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