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Key Takeaways:

• The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has been discussing the implementation of "Wenger’s law," a potential new rule regarding offside positions.
• The rule has been trialed in low-level competitions in Italy and the Netherlands, with largely positive results but some concerns about an advantage to the attacker.
• The rule change would not be implemented directly into top-level competitions like the World Cup or Premier League, but would rather undergo further testing and evaluation.
• The potential impact of the rule change on the game, including tactics and goal scoring, is still unknown and requires further testing.
• Other potential rule changes, such as using the torso as the reference point for offside, are also being considered.

Introduction to Wenger’s Law
The debate about offside positions in football has been ongoing for years, and after every IFAB meeting, there is always some reference to a discussion about offside. As noted in the original article, "So unconvinced has IFAB been that, even after all this time, Wenger’s law has not been offered up to associations to try out in senior football." This suggests that IFAB is taking a cautious approach to implementing any changes to the offside rule. Wenger’s law, proposed by former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, aims to simplify the offside rule and reduce controversy surrounding it. The rule change would involve a new definition of offside, but the specifics of the rule are still being discussed and refined.

Trials and Testing
Low-level trials of Wenger’s law have been held in Italy’s under-18 championship in 2023 and in youth competitions in the Netherlands. According to the article, "BBC Sport has been told that the results were largely positive, though there were some concerns there is too much of an advantage to the attacker." These trials are an important step in evaluating the potential impact of the rule change, but they are just the beginning. As the article notes, "These are minor competitions and it must be used in real competitions, including those with VAR. The game needs to know how tactics would be adjusted and impact properly assessed." Further testing is needed to fully understand the effects of the rule change and to identify any potential unintended consequences.

Potential Impact and Concerns
One of the main concerns about Wenger’s law is that it could give too much of an advantage to the attacker. As the article states, "Wenger’s law could produce too many goals, or it could cause a reduction. There are plenty of examples of failed tests." For example, in the 1987-88 season, the National League tried out a tweak which meant a player could not be offside from a free-kick, but this led to more defensive tactics. Similarly, the ABBA penalty shootout, which was introduced in 2017-18, was intended to make the game more exciting, but it ended up confusing players and supporters. As the article notes, "The same could happen at set-pieces with Wenger’s law. Defenders could be forced to drop deeper to prevent an attacker getting space in behind, especially at free-kicks."

Alternative Solutions
Another potential solution that has been proposed is to use the torso as the reference point for offside, rather than the feet and head. However, as the article notes, "Just how that could work in practice for assistant referees, especially in a crowd of bodies, is unclear." This highlights the complexity of implementing a new rule and the need for careful consideration and testing. As the article quotes, "Is Wenger’s law a good idea? Right now it is a question which is impossible to answer." This uncertainty underscores the need for further evaluation and discussion before any changes are made to the offside rule.

Conclusion and Future Plans
In conclusion, the debate about offside positions in football is ongoing, and IFAB is taking a cautious approach to implementing any changes. Wenger’s law has been trialed in low-level competitions, but further testing is needed to fully understand its potential impact. As the article notes, "If trials were successful, realistically it would be 2028-29 before a change would be rolled out across the game." This timeline highlights the careful and deliberate approach that IFAB is taking to ensure that any changes to the offside rule are well-considered and effective. Ultimately, the goal is to improve the game and reduce controversy, and IFAB will continue to evaluate and discuss potential rule changes in the coming years.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c17zw81yxp5o