New offside rule: Dermot Gallagher backs change for new season Last Updated: 03/08/15 2:59pm Match officials have a new offside rule to interpret this season Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher thinks the altered offside rule will be easier to understand in practice. In recent seasons, players have been allowed to occupy offside positions without necessarily being penalised depending on whether they were thought to be actively involved in play or not. Now they will be punished if they clearly attempt to play a ball close to them when their actions have an impact on an opponent’s ability to play the ball. .widget-container { max-width: 632px; height: 180px; } .widget-container > div { visibility: hidden; } At first glance, the reworking of the rule appears confusing but Gallagher, a Premier League referee for 15 years until he retired in 2007, thinks it makes the game more straightforward. He told Sky Sports News HQ: "A player has got to make an obvious action and clearly impact on their opponent’s ability to clear the ball. "I actually think it will simplify it. When you see the season unfold on Saturday, you’ll think that it’s one thing on paper and another in practice. please log in to view this image The new offside rule takes effect from the start of the 2015/16 season "Don’t forget the managers and coaches have had referees visiting them throughout pre-season to go through clips and it won’t be a shock to them. "When this was issued in the summer, referees took this into their games so hopefully they will be as up to speed as the players." Gallagher talked through a number of scenarios from last season to highlight how the rule might change which decisions are reached, including these three goals... GOAL: Juan Mata (Manchester United) v Stoke City, 02/12/14 please log in to view this image is marginally offside when Manchester United's Juan Mata takes a free kick against Stoke"> Marcos Rojo is marginally offside when Manchester United's Juan Mata takes a free kick against Stoke THE SCENARIO: United have a free kick on the right which Mata takes and it swings in towards goal. At the point the ball is played, Marcos Rojo is in an offside position and he attempts to head the cross in but misses. Nobody else connects with the ball and Mata’s effort goes straight in, with a goal awarded. THIS SEASON’S DECISION: Goal is disallowed. GALLAGHER SAYS: Rojo has jumped for the ball and clearly gone to head it. He is clearly offside when the free kick is taken and the keeper can’t make his move until Rojo has either headed the ball or missed it. He is deemed to have had an impact on the goalkeeper, so that goal would be disallowed. Even though he doesn’t touch it, he has a chance to touch it. If that ball went 20 feet over his head, he wouldn’t be deemed offside because he would have no chance of playing it. GOAL: Harry Kane (Tottenham) v Burnley, 20/12/14 http://www.skysports.com/football/n...-dermot-gallagher-backs-change-for-new-season
I think this rule needs to be simplified and go back to the original rule - anyone in an offside position when the ball is played will be flagged. Whilst I understand the current ruling and it's better in theory, it must be a nightmare for the linos. Not only that, it makes defending incredibly harder as well.
I do agree. If you are hanging out offside you are doing it for a reason or two. First reason can be pure lazyness in actually get back and a ball comes quicker than expected. Second reason is you are pushing the limits seeking advantage. In my view the ref has to show common sense in waving play on if a player doesn't go for it. Otherwise if someone is offside he is offside.
Giving people that are offside yellow or red card is going to be too harsh. Some good goals were scored in the past that were ruled out as offside.Video evidence is a better option, but not many people like this. Referee assistants are sometime scared not to make correct decision.
Which is why common sense is required The atrempt to change is done for good reason... the result is unexpected new ways players exploit it. At every single free kick someone is clearly offside when it's taken just to worry defences and pull them a bit deeper He is interfering imo. May examples like it.
This rule doesn't change the situation where a player is offside in the keepers eye line when a teammate shoots. As long as the offside player doesn't make 'obvious' movement towards the ball, its a legitimate goal
Totally agree Mito and looking at these new rules/guidelines makes me think the water's are being muddied further but time will tell. They are right to try and stamp down on the deliberate interference/players taking the piss etc but it's all very well saying the officials understand it (we'll see about that) but will the players? Yet again this seems like a "judgement call" situation and we all know that only usually favours the likes of united and chelsea What I really don't want to go back to is the giving of offside when a guy is one yard inside the opposition half on the far side of the field etc.
But only if they clearly attempt to play the ball. Just standing in the keeper's eyeline isn't clearly attempting to play the ball.
It doesn't say attempt to play the ball in the rule it says "makes an obvious action which clearly impacts on their opponents ability to clear the ball". Surely standing in front of the keeper could be interpreted as making an obvious action but that's my interpretation (hence me saying it's as clear as mud and open to interpretation ).
Sorry, I was thinking that "Now they will be punished if they clearly attempt to play a ball close to them when their actions have an impact on an opponent’s ability to play the ball." was the actual rule, when it's not. Isomehow managed to miss the big picture right underneath it.
No, he'd be interfering with play if in the keepers eye line so would be deemed offside whether we attempted to touch the ball or not
I love the way the article says this year the goal would be disallowed....whereas we all know that at Old Trafford, this year (the same as every other year) the goal would still be allowed
Yep me too - but it's the simplest way. For a referee to determine if a player is offside or active in different phases of play must be incredibly difficult. Attackers will exploit that grey area, and it makes it much more difficult for defenders or GK. Keep it simple.
