Khaberni - FIFA President, the Swiss Gianni Infantino, hinted during the Global Sports Summit in Dubai, at the possibility of modifying the offside rule to make the game "more attractive".
FIFA's president clarified on Monday: "We continue to study how to develop the rules to make the game more offensive and attractive", emphasizing the need "to reduce stoppages in play to a minimum".
Infantino continued: "We are studying the offside law which has evolved over the years and currently requires that the attacker be behind or on the same line as the last defender", adding: "Perhaps in the future" a player must "be completely ahead of the last defender to be considered offside".
In other words, offside will not be counted if a player’s leg or arm is ahead of the last defender.
This change, which favors the attackers, is supported by the former French coach of English club Arsenal and the current director of football development at FIFA, Arsene Wenger.
This proposal, which has previously been tested in age group competitions, needs approval from the International Football Association Board (IFAB), responsible for the rules of the game, with its annual meeting scheduled for January 20 in London, before being ratified by FIFA during its general assembly.
Although it is unlikely that the new rule will be implemented starting this summer during the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the Spanish sports newspaper "As" pointed out on Tuesday the possibility of its implementation starting from next season.
