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Law 11, which deals with offside, is one of the shortest and least complicated laws in the entire Fifa rule book – or so it used to be.
It was straightforward and simple. Then a bunch of what I call “soccer politicians” got together and, today, you wouldn’t recognise it at all.
Let me put it in perspective.
Heretofore, if an attacking player was level with the second-last defender, he was offside. Then they changed it, thinking it would bring more goals.
The current situation is that if a player is level with the second-last defender, he is not offside – and they went further and said that if there was doubt, the benefit would go to the attacking player.
So, you see, you have to be clearly in front of the second-last defender to be ruled offside.
It is important to remember that any part of the head, body or feet will be judged offside, but not the hand or arm as you cannot score with the hand or arm.
Is that as clear as muddy water? Well, let me tell you, the water is about to become muddier – and even polluted.
Let me explain.
In a recent game between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur in London, prolific scorer Harry Kane of Spurs was awarded a penalty kick when others felt he should have been ruled offside before the penalty was awarded.
The press were in a frenzy and the fans were outraged. How could this happen? Did the assistant referee not notice that Kane was in front of the second-last defender?
Where was the video assistant referee (VAR)?
VAR will be available next season in the Premier League, but that’s no good for this season.
Here’s what the law says in situations where:
. A player moving from, or standing in, an offside position is in the way of an opponent and interferes with the movement of the opponent towards the ball, this is an offside offence if it impacts on the ability of the opponent to play or challenge for the ball; if the player moves into the way of an opponent and impedes the opponent’s progress (for example, blocks the opponent), the offence should be penalised under law 12 (fouls and misconduct).
. A player in an offside position is moving towards the ball with the intention of playing the ball, and is fouled before playing or attempting to play the ball, or challenging an opponent for the ball, the foul is penalised as it has occurred before the offside offence.
. An offence is committed against a player in an offside position who is already playing or attempting to play the ball, or challenging an opponent for the ball, the offside offence is penalised as it has occurred before the foul challenge.
You may not agree with that summary, but that’s the law and it is very important that all commentators, coaches and players keep up to date with the laws and understand that changes are happening all the time – and, believe me, there are more in the pipeline that will also cause debate and discussion.
The referee and his assistant on the day were roundly condemned for making a perceived mistake in not applying the offside law but, in fact, they were proved to be correct.
It is also important to say that being in an offside position is not in itself an offence.
Again, many assistant referees have been lambasted by commentators for a “late flag”. It is not a late flag. The offending player is only ruled offside when he plays or attempts to play the ball.
That’s to keep the game flowing because players in an offside position don’t always make contact with the ball, so there is no point in stopping the game.
Clear?
I would welcome your comments on this and previous articles.
Follow me on Twitter @dr_errol
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