The first goal validated under the experimental "daylight" offside rule was scored in Canada this Saturday (18), with Pacific FC striker Alejandro Diaz finding the net in a 2-2 draw with Halifax Wanderers.
The play would have been ruled out anywhere else under the standard Laws of the Game from the International Football Association Board (IFAB), but it was allowed because of the ongoing trial in the Canadian Premier League (CPL), carried out in cooperation with FIFA.
The "daylight" interpretation of offside means there must be a full gap (a "daylight") between the attacker and the second-last opposing player — effectively the last defender, given the goalkeeper’s usual positioning.
The CPL is testing the rule this season as part of efforts to reduce marginal offside calls and encourage attacking football.
The concept, long advocated by former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger in his role as FIFA’s chief of global football development, is being assessed in Canada as a possible change to the offside rule.
However, critics suggest the "daylight" rule will give too much advantage to the attacking team.
The CPL — which does not have video assistant referee (VAR) — is the first top-tier league to test this new rule, following trials in lower divisions carried out in the Italian Under-18 Championship in 2023 and in youth competitions in the Netherlands.
The test results will be presented to IFAB at the end of the year.
If successful, there is potential for the rule to be changed worldwide for the 2027/28 European season, according to European media reports.
Featured photo: reproduction/X
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.
