Wenger calls for reform: Premier League 37 goals fail due to minor offside

Tuqiu.com May 7th News Wenger, currently the global football development director of FIFA, once again focused on the reform of offside rules and expressed concerns about the current rules.

Winger looked back on the rules of the past. In 1990, the rules of football were clear that as long as the offensive player and the defensive player were on the same line, it was not considered offside; and in the event of doubt, the penalty was tended to be on the offensive side. This rule has greatly inspired offensive vitality and contributed many wonderful moments to fans. But with the official introduction of VAR technology to football in the 2018 World Cup in Russia, everything has quietly changed. VAR's intervention made offside penalty precise to the "body hair level", and the rule advantages that the striker enjoyed in the past were gone. Wenger specifically noted that in English football, 37 goals have been cancelled this season due to extremely slight offside penalty. This data not only puts the players' efforts on the court to waste, but also greatly reduces the fans' experience of watching the game, seriously affecting the smoothness and viewing of football games, which is very frustrating.

Based on this, Wenger has been working hard for the reform of offside rules for many years. He proposed that as long as the offensive player is on the same line as the defensive player, he should not be judged offside. The core of this concept is that an offensive player is considered to be offside only if any effective goal position of an offensive player (such as head, body, feet, not hands and arms) does not overlap with the opponent. Since the idea was proposed in 2020, it has been tested in leagues in Sweden, Italy and the Netherlands. The offensive scenes have increased significantly in some competitions, achieving positive results.

It is reported that the FIFA Council (IFAB) will make a decision on Wenger's proposal within one year. As the highest decision-making body for football rules, IFAB's choices will have a profound impact on the direction of future football matches. Wenger hopes that through this reform, football will return to its offensive essence, reduce controversial punishment, reshape the charm of football events, and allow players and fans to enjoy the passion and happiness brought by football.