UEFA did not support the project to change the rules for determining offside in world football – media

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and representatives of the Football Association of England (FA) opposed the draft changes to the rules for determining offside, The Times reports.

AS previously reported that the International Football Association Board (IFAB), which has the power to change the rules of the game, will consider a proposal to change the offside rule at its annual meeting on January 20 in London.

The project was proposed by the former head coach of London Arsenal Arsene Wenger. According to his idea, offside should be detected only if a player of the attacking team at the moment of the pass is with his whole body behind the offside line and influences the game episode. Currently, offside is determined if any part of the attacking player’s body, with the exception of the hands, is closer to the opponent’s goal than the ball and the second-to-last player of the opposing team (including the goalkeeper).

UEFA and FA consider the idea too radical. They also suggest that instead of making football more entertaining, the opposite will happen: with this offside rule, most teams will move to a deep, massed defense.

Organizations are ready to discuss a compromise option: not to take into account the position of the legs and heads of attacking players when offside.