Football is the most popular sport in the world, which means the majority of people are acquainted with the rules of the game. However, even regular watchers of football are sometimes confused about offsides and when and why they happen. In this paper, the author will explain in detail what offside is, how it is detected, and implications for a team that commits this foul.
An offside position is a situation when a player of the attacking team is closer to the opponent’s goal than the ball and the opponent’s last player except for the goalkeeper during passing. This definition is only suitable for general understanding because there are several intricate details. For instance, if a player is in an offside position but neglects the ball and does not interfere with the attack, then no foul is committed (Law 11: Offside, 2020). Also, if the attacking player was in their half at the time of the pass, even if they are closer to the opponent’s goal than the rival’s defenders, the situation is not considered to be offside (Law 11: Offside, 2020). There cannot be an offside position if the last pass comes from a goal kick, a corner kick, or a throw-in (Law 11: Offside, 2020). It is essential to understand that being closer to the goal means having any part of the body with which one can legally touch the ball closer to the goal than the opponent’s last player (Law 11: Offside, 2020). Therefore, hands are not counted when drawing the offside line.
The referee must stop the play at the moment when a pass is sent to a player who is in an offside position. In the event of offside, the ball is returned to the opposing team, and a free kick is awarded. Offside may also be called in a situation in which the ball is not addressed directly to an offside player (The International Football Association Board, 2020). For example, the goalkeeper parries the shot but the attempt is complemented by another player who was offside at the time of the strike. The decision to stop the game and to call an offside position is made by the main referee of the match (The International Football Association Board, 2020). However, the assistant arbiters often help them – at the moment of detecting an offside position, the linesman raises the flag and holds it horizontally in front of them (The International Football Association Board, 2020). This way, they show that offside has occurred, and the game needs to be stopped. The main referee has the right to disagree with the decisions of linesmen.
With the introduction of video assistance (VAR) during games, spotting offside positions has become less stressful for referees. The reason is that computer-aided systems can draw precise offside lines to check whether or not the initial decision of a linesman was correct (The International Football Association Board, 2020). In case a mistake was made, then the main referee has the right to overrule the initial decision. Despite VAR’s contribution to equal play, many fans around the world express their frustration about the technology.
The offside rule in football can be challenging to understand because it has many intricacies. Even the official rule definition provided by FIFA cannot be encompassed within one sentence and is instead disseminated across multiple bullet points. At the same time, the offside rule is one of the most important laws of the game to understand because decisions regarding offside positions can impact play outcomes significantly.
References
Law 11: Offside. (2020). The Football Association. Web.
The International Football Association Board. (2020). Laws of the game. Web.