The Off Side Rule

HatfulofHollow

HatfulofHollow

Well-known member
Looking back at Oxford's goal, at least two of their players were in an off side position (had they made contact with the ball), nevertheless both would have been in Grimmy's eye line and potentially distracted him - just feels strange when players are 'active' in play and that close to the keeper that they are not deemed to be interfering with play.
 
HatfulofHollow said:
Looking back at Oxford's goal, at least two of their players were in an off side position (had they made contact with the ball), nevertheless both would have been in Grimmy's eye line and potentially distracted him - just feels strange when players are 'active' in play and that close to the keeper that they are not deemed to be interfering with play.
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It would have been a close call on VAR as to whether the scorer was off too.
 
Said it on another thread. I was level with it in the West, IMHO the scorer was on. Definitely at least 1 of theirs significantly forward of anything else we had around, maybe 2-3 yards.

He wasn't way off to the side of the goal, fairly centrally placed. So must at least have been in Grimmy's peripheral vision, and therefore a distraction. But it was something they did regular, another corner 20 mins later, there was at least three of them off - on that occasion it was flagged.

Overall the issue is the inconsistency, as usual, that the rule brings in. Another set of officials would have flagged the goal, and the daft part is both would be correct in a way.
 
I used to understand the offside rule but can't say I have a clue any more, just like the officials I guess. To make something workable it needs to be simple then it can be dealt with in a split second.
 
Anyone in an offside is offside because they must be interfering with play because the defenders are aware they are there so influencing play
 
What's crazy is the linesmen's obsession with completing the phase of play before raising the flag, even when it's clearly offside. That's all well and good if there's a VAR check, but mental for the vast majority of matches.
 
I thought it was offside at the time. If they are off to the side or clearly taking no part in the phase of play then I totally get not interfering but the fact it's a tactic being used by the teams clearly means they are interfering in that phase of play. Otherwise teams wouldnt utilise it as a tactic as there's no advantage.
 
The whole ‘interfering with play’ rule is the biggest pile of crap going to be honest. It completely over-complicates the situation as far as offside is concerned.

I get it, if a player is running back (say after taking a knock) and therefore clearly not interfering, but if players are assuming attacking positions in and around the box and particularly in the six yard area, then how can they not be interfering with play?
 
When they scored , I was hoping the flag would go up , it was like time stood still , but it never came !
Agree though after looking back, just at extended highlights, it appeared one of their players was offside, but we all know how bad the standard of the officials are in this league!
 
Davepick said:
Actually they're not 'Rules'.
They are 'The Laws of the Game'.
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Incorrect. Football has “Rules”.

The Rules of Association Football, 1863 – The First FA Rule Book (Original Rules): Amazon.co.uk: Bragg, Melvyn, Charlton, Bobby: 9781851243754: Books

Buy The Rules of Association Football, 1863 – The First FA Rule Book (Original Rules) Illustrated by Bragg, Melvyn, Charlton, Bobby (ISBN: 9781851243754) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
www.amazon.co.uk

Cricket has “Laws”.

The Wisden Book of Cricket Laws : Oslear, Don, Mosey, Don, Cowdrey, Sir Colin: Amazon.co.uk: Books

The Wisden Book of Cricket Laws : Oslear, Don, Mosey, Don, Cowdrey, Sir Colin: Amazon.co.uk: Books
www.amazon.co.uk
 
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It’s all part of a concerted attempt by FIFA/UEFA/The FA to increase the average goals per game. Never mind the dilution of the game’s purity.

They got a bit tired of 1-0 to the Arsenal / Inter Milan / Italy or whatever, they wanted to erase “catenaccio” forever.
 
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Archibald Knox said:
It’s all part of a concerted attempt by FIFA/UEFA/The FA to increase the average goals per game. Never mind the dilution of the game’s purity.

They got a bit tired of 1-0 to the Arsenal / Inter Milan / Italy or whatever, they wanted to erase “catenaccio” forever.
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Just get rid of offside altogether.
 
CGP1 said:
Said it on another thread. I was level with it in the West, IMHO the scorer was on. Definitely at least 1 of theirs significantly forward of anything else we had around, maybe 2-3 yards.

He wasn't way off to the side of the goal, fairly centrally placed. So must at least have been in Grimmy's peripheral vision, and therefore a distraction. But it was something they did regular, another corner 20 mins later, there was at least three of them off - on that occasion it was flagged.

Overall the issue is the inconsistency, as usual, that the rule brings in. Another set of officials would have flagged the goal, and the daft part is both would be correct in a way.
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Pretty much how i saw it at the time. Just oNside the goalscorer although i've seen the highlights and it did make me question it. Close call.
 
20togo said:
Pretty much how i saw it at the time. Just oNside the goalscorer although i've seen the highlights and it did make me question it. Close call.
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It was that second touch that made the ball fall at his feet after the initial header, and he was very close at that point.
 
It certainly was close. Gut feeling was the scorer was ok though.

Sootys point above is an interesting one, and not the first person I've heard seriously suggest it. It's another debate I guess and one I'd certainly be open to hearing all points of view on.

But what actually would be the points against it? A forward could sit down in the opposing area and wait? Ok so a defender marks them. Without ever having actually seen a game from before the o/s rule was created, that's my very basic understanding of how it used to be, with the standard defined positions and their opposite number, spreading the play.

Or, if that's too much, introduce a line further up the pitch that you can't be offside before, as per the halfway line now. Then anything beyond it is off regardless. This could be anywhere, 10-20 yards away from the penalty area; personally I would extend the line of the area itself to the edge of the pitch and call it that.
 
Loftyboy said:
Anyone in an offside is offside because they must be interfering with play because the defenders are aware they are there so influencing play
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That means that anyone in an offside position is automatically offside, which is clearly silly and the exact opposite of what the laws of the game specifically state.
 
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