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    Carson Jones dead at 38: Boxing champion who fought Kell Brook dies after surgery on oesophagus that ‘drove him insane’

    BOXER Carson Jones has passed away aged 38 as tributes poured in.Jones is well remembered for twice fighting and losing to Kell Brook during his 63-bout career. Carson Jones has passed away aged 38 as tributes poured inCredit: RexThe American – whose last fight was in 2023 – recently fell ill after complications during oesophagus surgery.And he has since sadly died – with former opponent Caleb Truax confirming the news.He posted a picture of them together and wrote: “Rest in paradise to my man. Boxing lost a good one, too early.” Jones had told his social media followers in January that he was struggling with gastrointestinal problems. READ MORE IN BOXINGIt affects the digestive tract, which is the passageway that food and liquids travel through from the mouth to the anus.At one point, Jones posted: “I finally have surgery on my esophagus on Monday. I cannot wait. This s*** is driving me insane.”I’ve had a max of three bites of food per day for the last few weeks, with a loss of 35 pounds. Some days, there is no food or drink at all.”Truax had previously posted: “Boxing community, we need some prayers for former world title challenger Carson Jones.Most read in Boxing”He had complications during a surgical procedure, and my friend can use all the good vibes he can get.” Jones lost to ex-welterweight world champion Brook on points in 2012 and then by stoppage in their rematch a year later. He also faced the likes of Antonio Margarito, Ted Cheeseman and Callum Walsh. Jones’ final fight came in October 2023 against James Warren at light-heavyweight – winning in two rounds. British boxing referee Mark Lyson posted: “Very sad to hear the news about the passing of Carson Jones at just 38. RIP Champ.”Manager Sam Jones said: “Such sad news about Carson Jones.” Kell Brook twice beat Jones, pictured here in their first 2012 fightCredit: Mark Robinson – The SunTed Cheeseman also fought JonesCredit: Rex Features More

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    Nico Hidalgo dead at 32: Former Juventus star dies after battle with lung cancer as tributes pour in

    FORMER Spanish footie star Nico Hidalgo has tragically passed away aged 32. The former Juventus midfielder has sadly lost his lengthy battle with lung cancer.Nico Hidalgo has tragically passed away aged 32Credit: GettyThe former Racing Santandar and Juventus star had been battling lung cancer since 2021Credit: GettyTributes have poured in for the late Hidalgo, including from former club Cadiz. The Segunda Division side’s ode read: “Nico Hidalgo has left us.”We will never forget your smile and your joy. Your struggle is our example. Rest in peace.”Extremadura, which no longer exists, also paid tribute to their late player.”This morning we woke up to the sad news of the death of Nico Hidalgo, former Extremadura UD footballer, at the age of 32 due to lung cancer which he had been fighting since 2021,” a club statement read.”From [everyone at] CD Extremadura, we would like to express our deepest condolences to his family and friends. “We send them all our love and strength in these difficult times.”Racing Santandar also paid tribute to the midfielder, whom they’ll honour with a minute’s silence ahead of their La Liga clash with Elche on Sunday.Most read in FootballThe late Nico Hidalgo retired from football in 2022Credit: GETTYA snippet of a club statement read: “Real Racing Club regrets the death of its former footballer Nico Hidalgo, who played 73 official matches with the green and white shirt between 2018 and 2020. “The Cantabrian club joins in the pain of his family and friends for this irreparable loss.”While sending its most sincere condolences and announcing that it will observe a minute of silence in his memory before the LaLiga Hypermotion match that its first team will play against Elche CF at the Campos de Sport tomorrow Sunday, March 2, at 9:00 p.m.”Hidalgo began his career with his local team Motril CF, whom he made 40 appearances before joining Granada in 2012. He moved to Italian giants Juve in 2014 but didn’t make a single appearance for the Old Lady in his three years in Turuin. He returned to Spain permanently in the summer of 2017 following loan spells with Granada and Cadiz. He closed out his career with stints with Racing Santander and Extremadura, retiring after learning of his diagnosis. More

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    Major change to offside rule with no more toenail decisions under Arsene Wenger’s new proposed shake-up

    TOENAIL offsides are set to be eradicated in a proposed shake-up of football laws.Arsene Wenger and refs’ chief David Elleray are behind the rule change to be discussed by the International FA Board today.A new shake-up to get rid of toenail offsides is set to be introducedCredit: GettyPlenty of very tight goals have been chalked off by marginal offsidesCredit: YouTube / The Emirates FA CupIt would see the offside line determined by the upper torso of attacking and defending players. SunSport revealed in 2020 how former Arsenal boss Wenger, now Fifa’s head of global football development, was pushing for a ‘daylight’ rule.That would mean players are deemed onside if any part of their body overlapped the last defender.But Wenger and other Ifab chiefs agree such a system would balance offside calls too far in favour of the attacking side.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLAnd trials for this new upper torso law have taken place over the past five years.The new idea will make offside calls easy to be determined — whether it is in the Prem or on park pitches.And it is likely to be endorsed at today’s meeting in Belfast, where video reviews and editing the six-second goalkeeper limit are also on the agenda.SunSport has been told Ifab is ready to endorse formal trials from as soon as next season.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSAnd a new offside law could potentially be introduced within three years.The development comes as Semi-Automated Offside Technology was used in English football for the first time in Aston Villa’s FA Cup tie with Cardiff last night. Fans left stunned at worst VAR offside line in history as they joke ‘absolutely NOT rigged’ – but all is not as it seemsIt incorporates 30 special high-speed cameras and will be introduced for the last nine weeks of the Prem season.Ifab members will today also bring in-stadium referee announcements of VAR decisions into law.Offsides could be judged on the upper torso to make it easier to determineCredit: BBCSemi-Automated Offside Technology is now being tested in EnglandCredit: UefaIn-stadium referee announcements of VAR decisions are also coming into the lawbookCredit: Sky Sports More

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    ‘Boxing is back’ – Times Square to host insane fight card with three pound-for-pound stars on May 2

    NEW YORK’S Time Square is set to be transformed for a “once-in-a-lifetime event” involving three pound-for-pound stars. Saudi boxing supremo Turki Al-Sheikh is staging shows outside of the Middle East in America and the UK. Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia fight on the same cardCredit: GettyTeofimo Lopez also features on the cardCredit: GettyRolly Romero will fight GarciaCredit: Rey Del Rio/

    Premier Boxing ChampionsBut his latest announcement revealed a huge triple header card will be held outside in Times Square in the heart of Midtown Manhattan on May 2. And fans went wild as one said: “Boxing is back.” Another added: “Nah this the craziest fight card of the year.” Ryan Garcia, 26, looks set to headline against old rival Rolly Romero, 29, in a welterweight clash. READ MORE IN BOXINGDevin Haney, 26, also returns up a 147lb against former world champion Jose Ramirez, 32. And WBO super-lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez, 27, defends his belt against Arnold Barboza, 33.Garcia and Haney return for the first time since their grudge match last April. Initially, Garcia won on points after three knockdowns but he later failed a drug test for ostarine – known to improve muscle growth. Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSHe denied knowingly ingesting it and blamed the positive test on a contaminated supplement – accepting a one-year ban with the result overturned. Haney – still now undefeated – is lined up for a rematch against Garcia if they both win their fights. Mike Tyson doesn’t hesitate when revealing heavyweight who would have beaten him Romero is coming off a ten-round points win over Manuel Jaimes in September after losing his WBA 140lb title to Isaac Cruz last year. Ramirez lost to Barboza in November and moves up in weight to face Haney – who has held lightweight and super-lightweight titles. Lopez beat Steve Claggett in June after a controversial decision victory against four months prior. He will now defend his WBO title against interim champ Barboza – coming off victory over Britain’s Jack Catterall in February. Arnold Barboza fights for Lopez’s WBO titleCredit: GettyJose Ramirez will be Haney’s comeback opponentCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

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    ‘I’m embarrassed’ – Ruben Amorim lifts lid on first three months at Man Utd as he admits ‘it’s really hard’

    RUBEN AMORIM admitted he is “embarrassed” by his first three months as Manchester United manager. The Red Devils splashed out more than £10million to buy Amorim out of his Sporting contract.Ruben Amorim admitted his start to life at Manchester United has been ’embarrassing’Credit: GettyHe replaced Erik ten Hag in November.But things have not gone according to plan so far.Amorim’s first 16 Premier League games have yielded just five wins – and a whopping eight defeats.He also set the record for the fewest number of matches to reach five home Prem losses in United history after just seven – half the previous record of 14 set by David Moyes. READ MORE ON FOOTBALLAmorim knows it has not been good enough. But despite the struggling start to life at Old Trafford and poor results so far, he still has the backing of the majority of fans and former United players alike. Speaking to Rio Ferdinand with TNT Sports, Amorim said: “I feel that [people believing in me]. “At the same time, I’m embarrassed by that because if you look at our performance and you see our team sometimes on the pitch, it’s really hard for me as a coach to take a lot of positives.”Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSAmorim started off with a draw at Ipswich then thumped Ipswich 4-0 before defeats to Arsenal and Nottingham Forest.A dramatic Manchester derby win and draw at Anfield sandwiched three defeats without a goal over Christmas. How Bruno Fernandes’ ‘Steven Gerrard syndrome’ spoils Ruben Amorim’s Man Utd systemUnited needed a late Amad Diallo hat-trick then a Harry Maguire winner to rescue them against relegation-threatened Southampton and Ipswich at home.Maguire admitted in February that the Red Devils squad are feeling the pressure – particularly at home. And the Portuguese boss agrees – but is confident he can turn it around. He added: “I think we are so nervous sometimes in the game and you can feel it in the small things. “The way that we move sometimes, the understanding of the game, especially at Old Trafford.”I feel that sometimes the players are in the dressing room and we go to warm up and we go inside to start the game, I feel that the air is heavy. “These kind of things I think we show a lot in the games.”The only way I know to help them is to give them to the solutions to play on the pitch, but they have to believe it. “And to believe it is when we are losing or in a difficult situation and you feel like you cannot even build up one play, they have to stick with that and to believe in that. That is the hardest part. “Because when we suffer a goal or we have a bad moment, you feel like the connection is not there, we lose ourselves. “We get lost a little bit. I understand it is more than football, more than tactics, it is something that is in the players’ mind.”Former United striker Federico Macheda told SunSport he reckons with the right signings and by turning to young players, Amorim can deliver titles again within “two to three years”.Macheda, now playing for Asteras Tripolis in Greece, said: “I believe yes he can. Amorim has a special connection. He’s one coach that can get Manchester United to fight for everything.“I like Amorim even if you don’t see the results, maybe sometimes they play bad football.READ MORE SUN STORIES“It’s difficult because for a club to be successful, you need great players.“If they trust Amorim and give him time, bring in the right players and change some things in the club like the bad mentality, I believe Manchester United will be back in two to three years.”Harry Maguire and Amorim agree that United are feeling the pressure at Old TraffordCredit: GettyFederico Macheda believes the Portuguese manager can deliver the Premier League title for the Red DevilsCredit: Asteras TripolisMan Utd ratings vs Ipswich as Maguire saves the day after Onana makes case to be WORST ever signingMANCHESTER UNITED eased their fears of the drop in a topsy-turvy relegation six-pointer with Ipswich.The Red Devils triumphed 3-2 despite playing the second half with ten men.A major cock-up from Patrick Dorgu and Andre Onana saw Ipswich take a third-minute lead through Jaden Philogene.Then, after United had recovered to lead 2-1, Dorgu saw a straight red card for a poor challenge on Omari Hutchinson.Philogene scored again to level it before the break only for Harry Maguire to nod in to be United’s saviour.But who was United’s best player on the night?Here, SunSport’s Phil Thomas reveals his Manchester United player ratings… More

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    ‘He’s NOT real’ – Arsenal fans in awe of 15-year-old Max Dowman’s highlight reel despite FA Youth Cup loss vs Man Utd

    ARSENAL fans were left in awe at 15-year-old Max Dowman’s performance in the FA Youth Cup against Manchester United. The Gunners were beaten 3-2 at the Emirates by United – but it was still Dowman who stole the show.Arsenal fans were left in awe at 15-year-old Max DowmanCredit: GettyMidfielder Dowman had fans playing his highlights on repeat after a series of stunning runs and passes.At 1-1, he even won a spot-kick and scored to leave supporters believing they have a superstar on their hands. One said: “Max Dowman is NOT REAL! An absurd run, picking it up in his own third and winning a penatly, while taking on the entire Manchester United team. “Dowman steps up and converts from the spot.” READ MORE ON Arsenal Another hailed: “He’s going to be playing in the first team before we know it. Fans should keep their eyes on this one.” One lauded: “Max Dowman is an absolute beauty of a footballer. Such a problem-solver, this kid. “Brilliant technical tools at his disposal and a proper big brain.”Another said: “Max Dowman is 15 and he has no business in academy football. Wild.”Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSGooners were calling for Dowman to make his senior debut – having already trained with the first-team.But no player below the under-16 age group can be included in a matchday squad, per tournament regulations.And Dowman has been listed in Arsenal’s U15 side. Arteta said in January: “We have Max and many other kids it’s a big opportunity for us to see them in our environment and it’s clear on the rules with age restrictions at the moment.”It’s very difficult to change that as well.”Dowman is not the only academy kid to have caught Arteta’s eye with another starlet seen as one for the future.Dowman with Arsenal manager Mikel ArtetaCredit: Getty More

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    I made deal with God as I lay dying after husband’s attack – I’m still trying to keep my end, says boxer Christy Martin

    BOXING legend Christy Martin has revealed she made a deal with God as she lay dying after her husband’s brutal attack – and says she’s still trying to keep her end of the bargain.The 56-year-old – nicknamed The Coal Miner’s Daughter because of her father’s job in West Virginia, where she grew up – was a pioneer in the ring.Boxing legend Christy Martin is a survivor of domestic abuseCredit: GettyChristy survived an attempted murder by husband JimCredit: Office of the State Attorney, Ninth Judicial Circuit of FloridaChristy, right, poses with actress Sydney Sweeney who will be playing her in the upcoming movieCredit: FacebookShe won 49 fights, with 32 by way of knockout, in a career that began in the late 1980s, and was represented by legendary promoter Don King.However, behind the scenes manager James ‘Jim’ Martin, who she would marry in 1991, made her life a living hell by beating her physically and stripping her down mentally.All the while, Christy, who is gay, was wrestling with her sexuality and identity in the macho world of her profession.In 2010, Martin would attempt to take Christy’s life – repeatedly stabbing his wife, before shooting her in the chest.Martin, who was 25 years Christy’s senior, was sentenced to 25 years in prison.He died last November, while serving his sentence at Graceville Correctional Facility in Florida.Understandably, Christy’s astonishing story has caught the attention of Hollywood.It’s not a boxing movie. It’s about domestic violence and it’s about sexuality. There’s so many different aspects and groups of people that this movie can affectChristy MartinA movie, directed by acclaimed Aussie filmmaker David Michod and starring actress of the moment Sydney Sweeney as Christy, wrapped in late 2024.Netflix also chronicled the tale with a powerful documentary called Untold: Deal with the Devil released in 2021.Speaking to SunSport, Christy, 56, told us: “To me, it’s the underdog story.Christy Martin was a boxing legend, but her ex-husband and trainer attempted to murder her”It’s not a boxing movie. It’s about domestic violence and it’s about sexuality. There’s so many different aspects and groups of people that this movie can affect.”The meaning behind the movie, for me, is don’t hide who you are – whatever it be, whatever makes you different. Be true to you.”Christy admitted she was surprised, at first, by the casting of Hollywood superstar Sweeney.”My first reaction was, ‘Wow, it kind of doesn’t fit,'” she said.”But when I spoke with Sydney, I learned she actually has an MMA background. We had some great conversations.”She is very much a competitor, like I was. I think this role will show people a whole other side to her they are not used to seeing.”She’s very real and a completely normal person, not like some Hollywood people I have met in my life and throughout my boxing career.”Christy met future hubby Jim when she was 22 and he was 47. She was an up and coming boxer, and he promised her the world by claiming he had contacts that could get her to the top of the tree.They married in 1991, although it was a marriage of convenience. Before Jim, Christy was in relationships with women.”I got involved with Jim by accident,” she said.”It was one of those things, I was impressionable and young and he claimed he knew everyone in the boxing business.”Christy was in an abusive marriage with Jim Martin who was her managerCredit: GettyGlam Sweeney was a surprise choice to play Martin in the new filmSweeney flexes her muscles on set of the untitled Christy Martin biopicCredit: instagram/sydney_sweeneySydney is unrecognisable on set for the upcoming movieCredit: BackGridBy the mid 1990s, Christy became a showbiz name in her own right.She featured on the undercard for Mike Tyson’s pay-per-view fight against Frank Bruno, and appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated.There was even an appearance on classic US TV sitcom Roseanne.But away from the public eye, she was under duress from Jim who controlled her every move.That included trash-talking gay fighters, even though she was hiding her own past and sexuality.Christy revealed: “Jim would encourage me to trash talk fighters who were gay.”I would tell him, ‘You’re treading on thin ice because if I say something, then someone from my past might hear it and come out of the woodwork’.”I would always tell him he was pushing me to walk a dangerous line.”It could have come out at any point, at any time, and something could have exposed me. How would I have looked then?”I was living two lives with what was going on in front of the camera and what was happening behind closed doors.”We would argue about everything, at press conferences, at home. I got to the point where I would pick and choose my battles.”As the first superstar of women’s boxing, Christy appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1996Credit: SuppliedLegendary boxing promoter Don King represented ChristyCredit: GettyChristy became a celebrity in her own right – appearing on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in 1996Credit: NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal viaTheir blistering rows would often erupt into violence. “Once he knocked my tooth through my lip when I tried to leave him,” Christy confessed.”I had put a contract together to go our separate ways. I just wanted to live my life and go in a different direction. But I was his personal ATM. Without me what was he going to do?”As their relationship further deteriorated, Christy began to get hooked on cocaine, which she used to ease her pain.As he was beating my head into the dresser, I thought, ‘You know motherf***er, you are not going to kill me. Not today.’Christy MartinOn November 23, 2010 it all came to a head. After spending a few days with her friend, Sherry Lusk, Christy returned to their Florida home to find an agitated Martin.She recalled: “I had a headache, so I went to lay down in the bedroom. The entire time I’m laying down, I could hear Jim sharpening a knife.”Then I overheard him talking on the phone, calling people up and telling them I left him for a woman.”I got up and I was getting ready to go for a run. I put one shoe on and then he came into the bedroom.”He said, ‘I have something to show you.’ I thought he had a boxing contract, but instead he had a knife and a gun.”He started to stab me and cut me up and we got into a fight. In my mind, I was ready to die. “But, as he was beating my head into the dresser, I thought, ‘You know motherf***er, you are not going to kill me. Not today.’Christy refused to give up on life after being stabbed and shotCredit: GettyIn 2010, Martin repeatedly stabbed his wife with this knifeCredit: Office of the State Attorney, Ninth Judicial Circuit of FloridaHe then shot Christy in the chest with this pink gunCredit: Office of the State Attorney, Ninth Judicial Circuit of Florida”It was like a switch just flipped and I wanted to live. When he cut me, he cut his own hand. And so he stopped beating me and went to clean up his own hand.”I started to walk out the room. He came back in and picked up the gun. I said to him, ‘You don’t have the balls to shoot me.'”But he did. He shot me and I remember I just prayed to God and asked for a way to get out.”Christy was stabbed four times in the chest, her left lung was punctured, her left leg was sliced to the bone, and a bullet was lodged three inches from her heart.Callous Martin left his wife for dead on the bedroom floor and went to have a shower.The crime scene where Christy was stabbed four times and shotCredit: Office of the State Attorney, Ninth Judicial Circuit of FloridaChristy managed to make it out of the flat when Martin went to have a shower, picture shows blood on the bathroom floorCredit: Office of the State Attorney, Ninth Judicial Circuit of FloridaThe boxing legend’s left leg was sliced to the boneCredit: Office of the State Attorney, Ninth Judicial Circuit of FloridaJim Martin in hospital with injuries sustained in his attackCredit: Office of the State Attorney, Ninth Judicial Circuit of FloridaMartin was sentenced to 25 years in prison for attempting to murder ChristyCredit: Alamy”I heard the shower water turn on and that was God telling me it’s time, Christy, now’s the time. So I tried to get up, but blood was coming out of all these holes,” she said.Miraculously, she managed to make it out of their condo, before flagging down a stranger who rushed her to a nearby hospital.She survived her ordeal, as she believes, by the grace of God.In the emergency room, as she recovered from her wounds, she was also able to kick her drug habit to the kerb.”I had always been that athlete that said no to drugs,” she said.”In college, you smoke weed in high school and college and stuff – but I said I was never going to get addicted.”But cocaine became my drug of choice, and it was because I was so miserable with Jim. I was trying to find a happy place.I had always been that athlete that said no to drugsChristy”Cocaine was putting me in that happy place, even though it was really killing me and putting me in a worse place. It was an escape every day for around three years.”I quit because I wasn’t miserable anymore. I was free of Jim. I didn’t need that drug anymore.”Christy is thankful to be alive to tell her story, which she hopes will help women who have been in similar situations to her.”I made a deal with God in the hospital,” she told us.”You know, you let me live through this and I promise you I’m going to help. I’m going to help at least one person every day so they don’t suffer what I went through.”That’s why I keep talking about domestic violence because I gotta keep up my end of the bargain.”Christy in action against Laila Ali in 2003Credit: GettyJim Martin, right, died in 2024 while serving his sentence at Graceville Correctional Facility in FloridaToday, Christy Martin regularly discusses her domestic violence ordealCredit: GettyPioneering Christy led the way for female boxers like Katie Taylor, rightCredit: Sportsfile More

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    Football lawmakers considering HUGE rule change which could have major impact on goalkeepers

    FOOTBALL lawmakers are considering a huge rule change which could have a major impact on time-wasting goalkeepers.As things stand, under the current iteration of the laws, goalkeepers are permitted to hold the ball in their hands for six seconds.Major changes could come in regarding how long goalkeepers can hold the ball for – and the punishment for breaching itCredit: GettyReferees may have to count down the final five seconds on their handCredit: AlamyIn reality, though, the rule is very rarely – if ever – enforced.In many matches, goalkeepers will often be seen holding the ball for 20 seconds or even longer – especially to wind down the clock towards the end.There are two reasons why the six-second rule is hardly pulled up on.Firstly, after six seconds, goalkeepers are often still surrounded by opposition players – especially at set pieces.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLAnd secondly, the punishment of an indirect free-kick in the penalty area seemed disproportionate to the crime. Now, though, plans are “progressing positively” towards a shake-up of the legislation.In the new version of the rule, the length of time a goalkeeper can hold the ball in his hands would increase from six seconds to eight seconds.There would also be the introduction of a five-second countdown on the referee’s hand to signal publicly how long the goalkeeper has left to release the ball. Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSAnd the final edit would be surrounding the sanctions.The indirect free-kick inside the area would be scrapped.How Man Utd could clinch a win in Fulham FA Cup clash – Expert’s best bets | Weekend WagerInstead, the possibility of a throw-in or a corner to the opposition team is being discussed. A trial is taking place this season in the Premier League 2 with the eight-second rule and corners awarded, with another trial in Malta.And the feedback to Ifab – the International Football Association Board, who oversee the laws of football – is said to be positive.A change to the rules is unlikely to come into effect for the 2025-26 season.So it is expected there will be another season of trials with the suggestion it could come in for 2026-27.TOE NO-GO IN OFFSIDE REJIGEXCLUSIVE by MARTIN LIPTONTOENAIL offsides are set to be eradicated in a proposed shake-up of football laws.Arsene Wenger and refs’ chief David Elleray are behind the rule change to be discussed by the International FA Board today.It would see the offside line determined by the upper torso of attacking and defending players. SunSport revealed in 2020 how former Arsenal boss Wenger, now Fifa’s head of global football development, was pushing for a ‘daylight’ rule, meaning players would be deemed onside if any part of their body overlapped the last defender.Trials have taken place over the past five years, with Wenger and other Ifab chiefs agreeing such a system would balance offside calls too far in favour of the attacking side.The new idea, likely to be endorsed at today’s meeting in Belfast, will make offside calls easy to be determined — whether it is in the Prem or on park pitches.SunSport has been told Ifab is ready to endorse formal trials from as soon as next season, with potentially a new offside law introduced within three years.The development comes as Semi-Automated Offside Technology was used in English football for the first time in Aston Villa’s FA Cup tie with Cardiff last night. It incorporates 30 special high-speed cameras and will be introduced for the last nine weeks of the Prem season.Ifab members will today also bring in-stadium referee announcements of VAR decisions into law.JUST NOT ON… OR OFFIfab will meet in Belfast on Saturday for their annual general meeting – with video support systems and updates to the offside rule also on the agenda.Video support enables coaches to challenge referee decisions – similar to tennis or cricket – and the referee can then watch the video back of their decision and uphold the original or overrule their call. The format, designed for competitions that do not have the capabilities for VAR, has been tested in Fifa’s Women’s Under-17 and Under-20 World Cups.The offside rule update could give greater advantage to attacking players.READ MORE SUN STORIESArsene Wenger – Fifa’s chief of global football development – had advocated the ‘daylight’ rule, which has been trialled in U18s football in Italy, but that is understood to give too much advantage to attackers because it requires any part of the attacker’s body being level with the second-last defender.Instead, a new concept looking at the upper torso is set to be introduced, SunSport revealed. Another update to the offside law could also come into force with the ‘daylight’ ruleCredit: Getty More