Canada tests ‘Wenger‑style’ offside after controversial Vancouver equaliser

Canadian football has become the testing ground for a bold reinterpretation of offside, inspired by Arsène Wenger’s 2020 proposal. The debate reignited after Vancouver’s Tomasz Skublak scored a 97th‑minute equaliser against Inter Toronto, despite appearing clearly ahead of the last defender in traditional terms. Under the experimental rule, however, offside is called only when the attacker’s entire body fully surpasses the defender, creating visible “daylight” between them — a more generous margin that favours attacking play.

The trial, backed by FIFA and temporarily approved by IFAB, aims to gather data on whether this approach can make matches more fluid and entertaining. Skublak’s goal is not the first to benefit: Alejandro Díaz scored under the same interpretation in April.

While Europe continues refining semi‑automatic offside technology, Canada is effectively rehearsing a potential global shift. Whether this more permissive standard becomes universal will depend on the results — and on how football’s lawmakers weigh spectacle against precision.