Rabat – FIFA has confirmed that Arsene Wenger’s proposed “daylight” offside rule will be tested in the Canadian Premier League starting April 4, marking the first time the idea will be used in a professional competition.
The rule introduces a shift in how offside decisions are judged. Under this system, an attacking player will remain onside as long as any part of their body that can score is in line with, or behind, the last defender.
Only when there is visible space or “daylight” between attacker and defender will the player be considered offside.
Wenger, who leads FIFA’s global football development, has pushed for this change for several years. His goal is to reduce marginal offside calls and give more advantage to attacking players.
“This is an important pilot,” Wenger said in a FIFA statement. “By testing this new interpretation in a professional competition, we can better understand its impact, including improving clarity and the flow of the game and promoting attacking play.”
A first test at a professional level
The Canadian Premier League agreed to host the trial, working in coordination with FIFA and IFAB, the body responsible for football’s laws. Until now, the rule had only been tested in youth competitions.
The new season will begin on April 4 with Forge facing Ottawa. The trial will run throughout the campaign, allowing FIFA and IFAB to collect data before deciding whether to expand the rule to other competitions.
Wenger thanked the CPL and the Canadian Soccer Association for supporting the initiative, describing their role as key in moving the idea forward.
The change aims to simplify decisions for referees and reduce controversy around tight offside calls, which often depend on very small margins.
Alongside the offside rule, the CPL will also introduce a new system called Football Video Support (FVS). Unlike VAR, this system allows coaches to request reviews by using a card during the match.
Each coach will have a limited number of challenges and must act immediately after the incident. Reviews will focus on key decisions such as goals, penalties, red cards, or mistaken identity.
“This is about positioning the Canadian Premier League at the forefront of innovation,” said commissioner James Johnson. “We want to contribute to the global evolution of the game.”
