How far does it go? We all know about the controversial goal in the United-Newcastle game. But in Southampton's goal against Arsenal, Lambert was waiting for the ball in an offside position but the ball was intercepted by Sagna. If Lambert is waiting for the ball and Sagna has to intercept it surely its interfering with play. Personally I feel it should not have been offside, but I'm just playing devils advocate because I think the interfering with play rule is ridiculous!
I think it works that the moment a player in an offside position effects the game in any way, as opposed to just not being there. If the ball was passed into space, Sagna wouldn't have had to make the intercept, therefore Lambert's positioning has interfered with play, so I'd call that offside.
Quite clearly all referees now interprete the rule as meaning that unless the player actually touches the ball he is not interfering with play. To my mind that is ludicrous but then, in my opinion, so are referees and the Governing bodies. To interprete the rule that way makes life easier for referees which is also why if you stop a player getting to the ball by blocking his path and not playing the ball it is obstruction unless the ball is running out of play in which case you can obstruct players as much as you like.
i personally feel the rule should be amended back to how it was before - it was clear cut - there was no grey area, so everyone knew where they stood (which if it was offside was flagged for offside!) i also feel that this rule is the reason why there are so many more goals these days. its bloody hard to organise a defence to play offside using the old rule, so to do it when anyone can just stand offside and not be flagged for it is leading to more defensive errors and more goals.
We had a situation yesterday where Kane was onside in the box but Snodgrass further out right was offside. The linesman signalled when the ball was passed to Kane. Rules should not have to be interpreted. I would like to see an experiment with no offside laws. Others have said it would lead to long ball football. I'm not sure. It may well lead to the game being spread out and players gaining more space. NCFC play a deep defensive game so it doesn't affect us too much defensively but our opponents may defend high up the pitch.
How far does it go? If a pass is made to a player who is offside but is intercepted by a defender and therefore deflected to a striker and they score then they are interfering with play. If the pass is made to the offside player then they are interfering play causing the defender having to act on it ending with another player getting the ball. It needs to be determined how widely this interfering with play should go, which will change with different refs.
Surely you are interfering with play if are anywhere near the action? Defenders try and mark you because you are there, whether you are offside or not, and you are therefore interfering with play whether you are offside or not. I agree with Supers - go back to the old rule where you are offside if there isn't 2 opposition players between you and the goal line. It led to some unfortunate situations ( injured players should the count? etc etc ) but at least the rule was black and white and everybody understood it.
Couldn't agree more Supers. As often quoted "If you are on the field of play,you are effecting the game" Simples.
yep. to be honest, when the law changed (ie, active or not) i thought it was a great idea. i just think it has been tampered with a bit too much now and referees, assistant referees, players, managers and fans have difficulty understanding it. that's no use to anyone. change it back
Just another point,was the rule on advancing the point that a free kick was awarded by 10 yds (as in rugby) if players protested etc been dropped? I seem to remember it came in,but cannot recall it being dropped.
i think they dropped it after one season, maybe two. it didn't really work in my opinion so wasn't surprised to see it banished.
