FIFA to scrap offside rule? Premier League managers question controversial Marco van Basten proposal

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has questioned the controversial proposal from FIFA technical director Marco van Basten to scrap offside. 

The former AC Milan and Holland striker has suggested eight changes to football that he feels could revolutionise the game.

Van Basten's ideas include getting rid of the offside rule, replacing penalty shoot-outs with eight-second run-ups and introducing orange cards to send players to sin-bins for ten minutes.

He has also proposed that players should be involved in fewer matches each season, that games should go straight to penalties without extra-time, children's games to be limited to eight-a-side, stopping the clock every time the ball goes out in the last ten minutes and only allowing captains to speak to referees.

But, when asked about the offside rule in particular, Wenger believes it would only make football a poorer game by losing a degree of its tactical intelligence.

"Changing in itself is not a good quality, improving is the real target,” said Wenger.

“Some of the proposals are worth discussing, some I don't see any big interest.

"The one I don't find interesting is to suppress offside. Offside is what makes the team good together. It is an intelligent rule as well, it is important to keep that in the game.

"Overall football improves, people say it is too tight and compact but football has always been like that, defence creates a problem for the attack and the attack find a solution."

But Wenger did agree with Van Basten's proposal about captains and referees, although feels it would be difficult to implement.

He added: "It is a very good proposal, we all dream of that, but it never happens in our sport."

Other Premier League bosses also had their say on the proposed changes, with West Ham manager Slaven Bilic doubtful whether getting rid of the offside rule would work.

"For me the major one is offside," he said.

"I can't imagine what football would look like, but my first reaction is it's impossible. Everybody would love to have a rest by the goalkeeper on the post and just tap in the ball. I really don't know, maybe to try it and see it on a pitch or organise a game.

"If I had to say now, no, but I don't know what it would look like."

Tottenham coach Mauricio Pochettino also felt the offside rule was part of what helps make the game.

The Argentine added: "I understand that sometimes when you are in some position you need to try to find ideas, but I don't want a machine without offside.

"If we play without rules, we have to be careful with that. I read some sentences but I don't know.

"My first impression I think is, be careful. Because in football to change the rules is a very difficult thing."

Van Basten has said he wants to listen to views on his proposals before anything is put before the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the game's lawmakers.