Arsene Wenger's offside rule trial sees first 'daylight' goal scored in top-flight league

Arsene Wenger's offside rule trial sees first 'daylight' goal scored in top-flight leagueArsene Wenger's experimental "daylight" offside rule is being trialled in Canada and the first goal allowed under it was scored on SaturdayCommentsSportBen Crawford Senior Sports Writer16:13, 19 Apr 2026View 3 ImagesPacific FC striker Alejandro Diaz made history on Saturday(Image: OneSoccer)Pacific FC striker Alejandro Diaz has scored the first goal allowed under the trialled "daylight" offside rule in the Canadian Premier League. The rule has long been advocated for by legendary Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who works as Fifa's chief of global football development.‌History was made in Canada on Saturday as Pacific FC drew 2-2 away at Halifax Wanderers. Diaz opened the scoring in the 20th minute, but under standard Ifab rules, his goal would have been chalked off.‌Yet it wasn't and the goal stood, because the CPL is trialling a new offside rule in cooperation with Fifa, by which there must be a complete gap between the attacker and the second-to-last opposition player for them to be deemed offside.‌This strike by Diaz was the first of its kind as the CPL continues to test out the new offside law this season in a bid to encourage attacking play. Wenger has championed this alteration, which could soon be seen in effect worldwide.JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! Latest news, analysis and much more on Mirror Football's Facebook pageREAD MORE: Mikel Arteta makes telling comment about his relationship with Pep GuardiolaREAD MORE: Tony Adams hits out at Arsenal and Mikel Arteta: "Why do you need a manager then?"Football's offside rule has undergone two key alterations in the past, one in 1925, when it was changed from requiring three opponents, including the goalkeeper, to be between a player and the goal line to be deemed onside, to only two.‌View 3 ImagesDiaz was onside as per the new rule(Image: OneSoccer)Before 1990, an att...