FIFA set to trial new offside rule and fans have mixed thoughts

FIFA are set to begin trialling a new offside rule ahead of the 2023/24 season in the Netherlands, Italy and Sweden which would see football endure a major change.

The new rule would mean that the entire player of an attacking player would have to be in front of the defender to be ruled offside, something that would see the amount of offside calls made be significantly reduced.

However, it would also make the offside rule easier to understand with it one of football's biggest taboo topics based on different interpretations from different federations, officials and other high-profile figures in the game.

🚨 BREAKING: FIFA will test a new offside law, where the ENTIRE body of the attacker must be in front of the defender for it to be ruled out. The Netherlands, Italy and Sweden will test it during some games.

The player below would NOT be offside with this rule. [DirectTVSports] pic.twitter.com/Cu8jC9xCiu

— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) July 1, 2023

Since the introduction of VAR to the Premier League in 2019, the offside rule and what actually counts as offside has seen numerous interpretations with a worrying amount of goals ruled out for incredibly tight margins that the human eye wouldn't be able to spot.

On paper, the new rule seems as though it could reduce fault in the game with plenty of fans taking to Twitter to share their thoughts, although some also raised eyebrows at the proposal.

One fan tweeted: "Thank god, offside is an awful rule. Ruins so many potential exciting plays" whilst another said: "This would be an excellent change to the rule, more goals = more excitement. Soccer traditionalists are fuming."

A third added: "No way!! I've been saying they should do this for years! This has potential to open up scoring in the sport a little more as well as eliminate most controversial offsides calls. All for it!"

More fans were keen on the idea, with one posting: "Good... None of that is his fingernail is ahead BS."

There were also jokes made about former Chelsea strikers Timo Werner and Alvaro Morata's tendencies to make a run too early with one fan tweeting: "Get werner and morata back we have title to win."

However, some fans were still sceptical at the idea as one tweeted: "so we go from a boot’s pinky toe or the edge of a shoulder being called offside, to this? pick something reasonable because this is borderline cherry-picking.

why are we ruining this beautiful sport!"

Another added: "Its gonna ruin a lot of ideas in football. Im out"

A third said: "Don't like this one bit. Yes it will mean attacking players benefit but you can just stand offside, put your toe infront a player for a split second then have a free run on goal which makes defending much much harder."

A final fan added: "FIFA finding new ways to make the offside worse - have to admire it at this point."

There is still little indication as to when and exactly how this rule will be trialled but it is certainly an interesting concept that would have major implications to the game as we know it today.