&w=3840&q=100)
Arsene Wenger wants offside rule to change to restore attackers' advantage: 'Doubt benefits the striker'
Arsene Wenger said the offside rule can be changed in 2026. Image: Reuters
Legendary football coach Arsene Wenger wants the offside rule to change in order to restore an advantage for the striker, which has been removed by the introduction of the video assistant referee (VAR).
Former Arsenal boss Wenger, who is also the head of global development at FIFA, said that if any part of an attacker's body is in line with the last outfield defender, then it should be considered onside and not offside.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Currently, an attacker is flagged offside if any part of the body, apart from hands and arms, is ahead of the last defender.
Wenger wants offside rule to change
Wenger said that such a change was brought in after the 1990 World Cup produced very few goals. However, the change has been compromised by VAR. During the 1990 World Cup, an attacker was considered offside if he was level with the last defender.
'It was in 1990 after the World Cup in Italy when there were no goals scored,' Wenger told Bein Sports. 'We decided that there is no offside any more when you are on the same line of the defender.
More from Football
'In case of doubt, the doubt benefits the striker. That means when there's a fraction, the striker did get the advantage.
'With VAR this advantage disappeared and for many people it's frustrating.'
It has to be noted that the 1990 World Cup had an average of 2.21 goals per match, the lowest among all World Cups.
Wenger also revealed that trials for the new change to the offside rule are currently taking place in Italian youth football and a final decision on the matter will be taken in 2026.
Till 2026, more trials on the rule change will be conducted. These trials were recently approved by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the law-makers for football.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
27 minutes ago
- NDTV
Lionel Messi's India Visit Details: Venues, Dates, Timing And Ticket Prices
If all the pieces fall in place, football devotees in Kolkata will have the first sighting of iconic Lionel Messi after a decade, and the City of Joy will be the first stop in the Argentine's whirlwind journey across Ahmedabad, Mumbai and New Delhi, culminating in a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The sources privy to the development informed PTI that all arrangements have been finalised including booking the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, but an official confirmation from Messi is still awaited. "It's been finalised and we are waiting for an official announcement from Messi, maybe on his social media handle anytime soon," said the source. "As of now we have agreed on the proposed itinerary and we are just awaiting an official announcement from his social media, which would be in anytime soon,' the source added. As per the itinerary, Messi will land in Kolkata on the night of December 12 around 10pm and will stay for two days and one night -- the longest stop on his tour. Kolkata Leg: 70-ft statue, GOAT Cup with Ganguly The Argentina captain's Kolkata schedule on December 13 will begin at 9am with a meet-and-greet event, followed by the unveiling of a 70-feet statue of him at the Lake Town Sribhumi on VIP Road. Organisers claim this will be the first-ever and tallest statue of the World Cup winner anywhere in the world. He will then head to Eden Gardens, where the GOAT Concert and GOAT Cup will be held from 12 noon to 1.30pm. "I don't want to mislead people. So basically, it will be a celebration of Messi, a master class with Messi. He will play the GOAT Cup in a seven-side soft-ball, soft-touch game with Sourav Ganguly, Leander Paes, John Abraham, Bhaichung Bhutia among others. It will be a celebration play in respect of Messi,' the source explained. He hoped for a sellout crowd as it will be a fully ticketed event. "This will be at Eden. It will be a ticketing event. Denominations are yet to be decided. It would be a little expensive -- should not be less than Rs 3,500. "Entire stadium will be open, so, we can expect a full capacity of 68,000. For 1 hour 20 minutes Messi will be there with musical tribute, masterclass with kids," he added. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is expected to felicitate Messi during the Eden Gardens programme. Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Delhi legs On the evening of December 13, Messi is slated to travel to Ahmedabad to attend a private event hosted by the Adani Foundation at their Shantigram headquarters. He will then reach Mumbai for events on December 14, including a meet-and-greet at CCI at 3.45pm, followed by the GOAT Concert and GOAT Cup at the Wankhede Stadium at 5.30pm. 'We've booked the Wankhede Stadium for the GOAT Cup at 5.45pm on December 14,' the source said. There were media reports suggesting that Messi could participate in a seven-a-side cricket match with MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli, but the source denied this. 'He is not going to play any cricket match in Mumbai. It will be only soft ball and soft touch with him. It will be a celebration of his journey with the presence of Indian celebrities.' Plans are also in place for Messi to interact with the Indian football team in Mumbai. "At Mumbai, we have planned an interaction with the Indian football team. Obviously, Sunil Chhetri and the Indian team moment that we have planned in Mumbai as per their respective availabilities,' the source said. Meeting with PM, Kotla celebration On December 15, Messi will be in New Delhi, where he is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, followed by a GOAT Concert and GOAT Cup at Feroz Shah Kotla at 2.15pm. At each city, Messi will be conducting a 'masterclass' with children, aimed at inspiring the next generation of Indian footballers. "Messi will be imparting masterclass with kids at every centre. The main idea is to celebrate Messi's success, giving little bit, for instance 30 to 40 minutes to motivate the young generation of players. So, masterclass and interaction with Messi.' No Kerala stop =========== The source also dispelled rumours of a Kerala leg during Messi's visit. 'However, there will be no event in Kerala as earlier reported,' the source said. Messi is also expected to travel with a large entourage including footballers, though details remain under wraps. Flashback 2011 In wee hours of August 31, 2011, Messi made his first appearance in India, landing in Kolkata as hysteric fans gathered at the airport to welcome him. He was here with his team to play an exhibition match against Venezuela at the Salt Lake Stadium a match they won 1-0. Messi's arrival sparked 'Messi fever' in Kolkata, with thousands of fans lining the streets, donning Messi jerseys, and packing the 75,000-capacity stadium. MESSI MANIA 2.0 Proposed Itinerary: December 12: Arrival in Kolkata (10pm). December 13 (Kolkata): 9am -- Meet and greet event; Statue unveiling (70-feet) at Lake Town Sribhumi, VIP Road; 12 noon to 1.30pm -- GOAT Concert at Eden Gardens followed by GOAT Cup; December 13 (Evening): Adani Foundation private event at Shantigram, Ahmedabad. December 14 (Mumbai): Meet and greet at CCI (3.45pm); GOAT Concert at Wankhede Stadium (5.30pm). December 15 (New Delhi): Meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi; GOAT Concert at Feroz Shah Kotla (2.15pm).
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
McGrath uneasy with Jasprit Bumrah's career trajectory with Team India: ‘To limit himself to Test cricket…'
Jasprit Bumrah has been the axis of India's bowling might for years, but his availability has become a quietly growing concern. Despite starting the current five-match Test series in England with a statement spell at Headingley that featured a five-wicket haul, Bumrah sat out the second Test at Edgbaston, returned for the third and fourth Tests, and was unavailable for the decider at The Oval. India's Jasprit Bumrah looks on (Action Images via Reuters) Even though the Indian bowlers had an entire fifth day off during the fourth Test at Old Trafford, Bumrah wasn't available for selection and was released from the squad ahead of Day 2 in the final match. The team management maintained that this was a call taken in respect of Bumrah's fitness and past injury record, including a setback suffered in Sydney earlier this year. This cautious handling follows a pattern in Bumrah's recent career. He missed the Champions Trophy, eased into full-throttle action through the IPL, and was inducted into the Test squad with a capped workload. India's assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate insisted the decision was made in "good faith", based on Bumrah's bowling loads across the series. But as the discussions around workload management grow louder, so do the questions on how long India can afford to hold back their best weapon, especially in a series this intense. McGrath on Bumrah Legendary Australian pacer Glenn McGrath, speaking to The Indian Express, weighed in on Bumrah's future and the challenge of balancing formats. 'You want your best bowler bowling. And he'll want to bowl all the time. If he's just bowling in short spells, then the batting team know they just can get through the three or four overs and then they're away,' McGrath said. 'So it depends a lot on the other bowlers. You need another group of fast bowlers coming through to balance it out so that he doesn't have to bowl long spells. You've got other bowlers bowling equally as well to carry the workload. You look at Bumrah, he's so effective in ODI and T20 cricket. To limit himself to Test cricket would be a shame. But, he's got to work out what's best for him.' Bumrah has sparsely participated in limited-overs bilateral series. The last time Bumrah was a part of India's white-ball bilateral series was September 2023, when Australia toured India ahead of the ODI World Cup. With no red-ball assignments scheduled immediately after the England series, Bumrah is expected to return to the T20 fold during the Asia Cup in September, if fully fit.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Messi's India tour: Opening leg in Kolkata; Delhi, Mumbai Ahmedabad ready to welcome the icon
Kolkata, If all the pieces fall in place, football devotees in Kolkata will have the first sighting of iconic Lionel Messi after a decade, and the City of Joy will be the first stop in the Argentine's whirlwind journey across Ahmedabad, Mumbai and New Delhi, culminating in a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The sources privy to the development informed PTI that all arrangements have been finalised including booking the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, but an official confirmation from Messi is still awaited. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Healthcare Data Science Digital Marketing MBA Design Thinking Data Analytics Artificial Intelligence Management Product Management Degree Data Science Finance others Operations Management CXO Technology Project Management Public Policy Others healthcare MCA PGDM Leadership Cybersecurity Skills you'll gain: Financial Analysis in Healthcare Financial Management & Investing Strategic Management in Healthcare Process Design & Analysis Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Certificate Program in Healthcare Management Starts on Jun 13, 2024 Get Details "It's been finalised and we are waiting for an official announcement from Messi, maybe on his social media handle anytime soon," said the source. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas Prices In Dubai Might Be More Affordable Than You Think Villas In Dubai | Search Ads Get Quote Undo "As of now we have agreed on the proposed itinerary and we are just awaiting an official announcement from his social media, which would be in anytime soon," the source added. As per the itinerary, Messi will land in Kolkata on the night of December 12 around 10pm and will stay for two days and one night -- the longest stop on his tour. Live Events Kolkata Leg: 70-ft statue, GOAT Cup with Ganguly ================================= The Argentina captain's Kolkata schedule on December 13 will begin at 9am with a meet-and-greet event, followed by the unveiling of a 70-feet statue of him at the Lake Town Sribhumi on VIP Road. Organisers claim this will be the first-ever and tallest statue of the World Cup winner anywhere in the world. He will then head to Eden Gardens, where the GOAT Concert and GOAT Cup will be held from 12 noon to 1.30pm. "I don't want to mislead people. So basically, it will be a celebration of Messi, a master class with Messi. "He will play the GOAT Cup in a seven-side soft-ball, soft-touch game with Sourav Ganguly, Leander Paes, John Abraham, Bhaichung Bhutia among others. It will be a celebration play in respect of Messi," the source explained. He hoped for a sellout crowd as it will be a fully ticketed event. "This will be at Eden. It will be a ticketing event. Denominations are yet to be decided. It would be a little expensive -- should not be less than Rs 3,500. "Entire stadium will be open, so, we can expect a full capacity of 68,000. For 1 hour 20 minutes Messi will be there with musical tribute, masterclass with kids," he added. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is expected to felicitate Messi during the Eden Gardens programme. Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Delhi legs ======================== On the evening of December 13, Messi is slated to travel to Ahmedabad to attend a private event hosted by the Adani Foundation at their Shantigram headquarters. He will then reach Mumbai for events on December 14, including a meet-and-greet at CCI at 3.45pm, followed by the GOAT Concert and GOAT Cup at the Wankhede Stadium at 5.30pm. "We've booked the Wankhede Stadium for the GOAT Cup at 5.45pm on December 14," the source said. There were media reports suggesting that Messi could participate in a seven-a-side cricket match with MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli , but the source denied this. "He is not going to play any cricket match in Mumbai. It will be only soft ball and soft touch with him. It will be a celebration of his journey with the presence of Indian celebrities." Plans are also in place for Messi to interact with the Indian football team in Mumbai. "At Mumbai, we have planned an interaction with the Indian football team. Obviously, Sunil Chhetri and the Indian team moment that we have planned in Mumbai as per their respective availabilities," the source said. Meeting with PM, Kotla celebration ==================== On December 15, Messi will be in New Delhi, where he is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, followed by a GOAT Concert and GOAT Cup at Feroz Shah Kotla at 2.15pm. At each city, Messi will be conducting a "masterclass" with children, aimed at inspiring the next generation of Indian footballers. "Messi will be imparting masterclass with kids at every centre. The main idea is to celebrate Messi's success, giving little bit, for instance 30 to 40 minutes to motivate the young generation of players. So, masterclass and interaction with Messi." No Kerala stop =========== The source also dispelled rumours of a Kerala leg during Messi's visit. "However, there will be no event in Kerala as earlier reported," the source said. Messi is also expected to travel with a large entourage including footballers, though details remain under wraps. Flashback 2011 ========= In wee hours of August 31, 2011, Messi made his first appearance in India, landing in Kolkata as hysteric fans gathered at the airport to welcome him. He was here with his team to play an exhibition match against Venezuela at the Salt Lake Stadium a match they won 1-0. Messi's arrival sparked "Messi fever" in Kolkata, with thousands of fans lining the streets, donning Messi jerseys, and packing the 75,000-capacity stadium. MESSI MANIA 2.0 ============ Proposed Itinerary: December 12: Arrival in Kolkata (10pm). December 13 (Kolkata): 9am -- Meet and greet event; Statue unveiling (70-feet) at Lake Town Sribhumi, VIP Road; 12 noon to 1.30pm -- GOAT Concert at Eden Gardens followed by GOAT Cup; December 13 (Evening): Adani Foundation private event at Shantigram, Ahmedabad. December 14 (Mumbai): Meet and greet at CCI (3.45pm); GOAT Concert at Wankhede Stadium (5.30pm). December 15 (New Delhi): Meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi; GOAT Concert at Feroz Shah Kotla (2.15pm). PTI
