Offside rule will be changed in Edinburgh

Published on 05/02/2013 01:32

One of the most controversial rules in football is set to be changed next month when the game’s lawmakers attempt to clarify when a player should be judged offside.

One of the most controversial rules in football is set to be changed next month when the game’s lawmakers attempt to clarify when a player should be judged offside.

The International FA Board has been asked by Fifa to make it clearer for referees to rule when a player in an offside position is interfering with play or not. The world governing body believes the current wording leaves too much room for interpretation by referees.

As it stands, the ruling states a player is judged to be interfering by “clearly obstructing an opponent’s vision or movements, or making a gesture or movement which in the opinion of the referee deceives or distracts an opponent”.

Fifa’s proposed new wording drops any reference to a referee’s opinion, simply stating: “a player is judged to be interfering by ‘clearly obstructing an opponent’s vision or challenging an opponent for the ball”’.

The new wording should make it easier for a player in an offside position to be judged as not interfering with an opponent.

The IFAB meeting in Edinburgh on 2 March will also have an update on the first use of goal-line technology at the Fifa Club World Cup in Japan in December – it is understood that all the goals scored were registered correctly by the equipment.

However, the controversial “triple punishment”, where a player gives away a penalty, is sent off and automatically suspended, has been left off the agenda. Critics complain that such decisions can end matches as a contest or completely change the course and that a penalty would suffice in cases where the foul is not violent. Criticism turns to outright indignity when the decision which leads to the threefold sanction is shown to be wrong.

A Fifa working group led by former Germany captain and coach Franz Beckenbauer suggested replacing the red with a yellow card except in the case of dangerous tackles. The proposal was studied by IFAB a year ago and they said it would be reviewed further. It has, however, been left off the agenda for the March meeting.

The board is made up of the four home nations, which each have one vote, and Fifa – which has four votes – and it will also debate how to respond to calls to make it more transparent and democratic.