Pioneering Flight League First to Test Arsene Wenger's Innovative Daylight Offside Rule

ARSENE WENGER’s new offside rule is going to trial in a top flight football league for the first time.

The former manager’s controversial daylight offside rule, mandated for a test run by and Ifab, will be implemented in the Canadian Premier League this season.

The rule itself dictates there needs to be a complete gap between the attacker and the second-to-last opposition player.

And the CPL will be the first top league in the world to play with the rule.

League CEO, James Johnson, said of the decision: “This is about positioning the Canadian Premier League at the forefront of innovation and contributing meaningfully to the global evolution of the game,”

“By working closely with Fifa and Ifab, we are proud to play a role in shaping the future of while continuing to build a competition that reflects our ambition here in .”

The Wenger offside law will be implemented with the addition of a new Football Video Support (FVS) system.

FVS will allow officials to review key incidents using available broadcast footage with the support of qualified Replay Operators.

Unlike seen in the Premier League and across Europe, there will be no dedicated video match official.

, now Fifa’s Chief of Global Football Development, added: “This is an important pilot.”

“By testing this new interpretation in a professional competition, we can better understand its impact, including in terms of improving clarity and the flow of the game and promoting attacking play.

“We look forward to analysing the results of the trial phase.

“We thank the Canadian Premier League and the Canadian Soccer Association for their willingness to support Fifa with this pilot and for providing their competition.”

Furthermore, reviews will be initiated by coaches with a limit of two video review requests per match for match-changing situations, including goals, penalty decisions, direct red cards and cases of mistaken identity.

If a review results in a decision being overturned, then the team will retain the opportunity to use the review again.

The CPL are also bringing new rules to stop time wasting and improve match tempo to the table.

These measures include a five-second countdown if a throw-in or goal-kick is viewed as being delayed, subs being made to leave the pitch within 10 seconds and players being required to leave the field for one minute when receiving medical treatment.

The CPL season, the eighth season since the league’s foundation, starts on April 4.

Eze Chidiebere Paul

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