Overview
- The Canadian Premier League, which kicks off Saturday, April 4, will host FIFA's pilot of the 'daylight' offside interpretation.
- Under the trial, an attacker is only offside when a visible gap exists to the second-last defender, so being level with a scoring body part keeps the play onside.
- Coaches will have a limited number of challenges to request reviews on goals, penalties, red cards, or mistaken identity by handing a card to the fourth official for a sideline monitor check.
- FIFA says the coach-challenge setup supports referees rather than replaces VAR, and the fourth official will still review every goal for possible attacking infringements in the buildup.
- IFAB cleared continued offside trials in February, Arsène Wenger and Gianni Infantino endorse the test, and earlier 'daylight' pilots have run in Italy’s top U18 leagues since April 2022 to inform any future law change.