Arsène Wenger, Fifa's chief of global development, has renewed his push to change the offside law to eliminate fractional decisions, but critics argue his proposal would fundamentally alter the game and fail to address the real VAR issue: the handball rule.
Speaking on beIN Sports this week, Wenger reiterated his plan to deem a player onside if any part of the body that can score a goal is level with the last defender. He first outlined this idea five years ago, aiming to end controversies over millimetre offsides, such as those involving a player's nose or toe.
However, observers have warned the change would simply shift disputes to heels and backsides, heavily favouring attackers and forcing defences to abandon high lines. 'Low blocks everywhere. Set pieces would be impossible to defend,' wrote Max Rushden in a commentary, describing the proposal as 'absolutely disastrous'.
The Ifab has also trialled a 'torso offside' rule, where the line is drawn from the torso rather than any body part. While proponents claim this offers a more balanced cutoff and easier tracking, critics note that any line will still produce marginal decisions.
Rushden concluded that the ongoing focus on offsides distracts from the handball rule, which remains the sport's most problematic VAR issue. 'Moving the line doesn't change anything. There will always be decisions made by millimetres,' he wrote.
