FIFA President since 2016, Gianni Infantino continues to consider the evolution of the game. At the World Sports Summit, the 54-year-old leader discussed a possible major change to the offside rule, with a clear objective: to make football more attacking, more spectacular, and more attractive.
Infantino: “More attacking and more attractive”
“We are looking at the offside rule, which has evolved over the years and currently requires the attacker to be behind the last defender or on the same line. Perhaps in the future, the player will have to be completely in front of the defender to be judged offside.”
Using the offside rule as an example, Gianni Infantino is reviving an idea that regularly stirs debate among governing bodies: giving the attacker a structural advantage. In his vision, a player would only be penalized if they are completely in front of the defender, and no longer simply aligned with him. Behind this proposal lies a clear rationale: to encourage runs, create scoring opportunities, and reduce the overly precise decisions that frustrate players, referees, and fans alike. Even if it’s still a matter of millimeters, it’s on the other side of the defense.
This isn’t an isolated whim, but a significant trend. For several years, FIFA has been seeking to make the game more fluid, increase the number of clear-cut chances, and make football more spectacular. This could lead to defenses becoming more cautious.
This thinking also comes within the context of football being over-analyzed, sometimes paralyzed by the fear of making mistakes. By modifying the offside rule, Infantino is attempting to give more weight to creativity, movement, and attacking instinct. A risky, but deliberate, gamble on the future of the game.
