DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
---------------------------------------------------------
RateTheRef
HTML https://ratetheref.createaforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************
DIR Return to: General Discussion
*****************************************************
#Post#: 99464--------------------------------------------------
Reinventing the wheel - FIFA/Wenger on offside
DIR By: RCG
Date: January 2, 2026, 5:15 am
---------------------------------------------------------
For those of a certain age we will remember the hours of being
told "look for daylight" between attackers and defenders - this
was the measure for offside, with any benefit of doubt going to
the attacker.
It would appear the forensic nature of offside with VAR has
upset the footballing gods and FIFA are recommending a gap
between forward and defender being the better yardstick
Love the way this is being heralded as new!!
Potentially giving the attacker an extra yard or so of space or
pushing the defenders back giving creative midfield players more
room
I whole heartedly support this (return) way forward
#Post#: 99465--------------------------------------------------
Re: Reinventing the wheel - FIFA/Wenger on offside
DIR By: TA_Ref
Date: January 2, 2026, 5:21 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Ok with the concept but our ARs who, especially at premier
league level, are excellent at what they currently do in
determining offside. Why should it be changed? I have no issue
with the offside rule currently.
Also, how do you tell our VAR’s where to do draw the lines? I
think it would be harder and even more subjective if we brought
this new rule in to complicate everything further.
It just makes a simple offside decision seem so much more
subjective. Every subjective non-offside decision is already
scrutinised enough in the league so why should we change
something that’s normally very factual to something that’s more
subjective.
#Post#: 99466--------------------------------------------------
Re: Reinventing the wheel - FIFA/Wenger on offside
DIR By: RCG
Date: January 2, 2026, 5:30 am
---------------------------------------------------------
That's the point- it's not subjective, any cross over between
attacker and defender would deem then onside. So it's the same
lines effectively, being used to the attackers benefit and not
the defenders
#Post#: 99467--------------------------------------------------
Re: Reinventing the wheel - FIFA/Wenger on offside
DIR By: Joecphillips
Date: January 2, 2026, 5:32 am
---------------------------------------------------------
They aren't solving a problem just moving the lines and the
complaints will continue
#Post#: 99468--------------------------------------------------
Re: Reinventing the wheel - FIFA/Wenger on offside
DIR By: RCG
Date: January 2, 2026, 6:08 am
---------------------------------------------------------
As an AR though it is easier to judge as you're not looking
through bodies (in the main)
#Post#: 99470--------------------------------------------------
Re: Reinventing the wheel - FIFA/Wenger on offside
DIR By: olliebcafc
Date: January 2, 2026, 7:10 am
---------------------------------------------------------
I don’t think it is easier for ARs, considering how they’ve been
training for years. It’s a terrible change in my view and will
only lead to more AR errors, more defensive setups and an equal
amount of controversy. The problem we’ve now got is the LOTG are
being designed to suit the 1% of games which use VAR rather than
for the game as a whole
#Post#: 99476--------------------------------------------------
Re: Reinventing the wheel - FIFA/Wenger on offside
DIR By: El Referee
Date: January 2, 2026, 9:03 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Regardless of which way they do it, it still all comes down to
mm. Currently you’re looking to see if an attacker is offside by
mm. With the change, you’re looking to see if they’re onside by
mm. So it doesn’t really change anything in that aspect.
My concern would be that it could make the game that bit more
defensive. A lot of teams will start to sit back even deeper.
#Post#: 99479--------------------------------------------------
Re: Reinventing the wheel - FIFA/Wenger on offside
DIR By: Whistleblower
Date: January 2, 2026, 11:14 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Law is not entire of itself, it exists to serve a purpose and
bring about an outcome. I would suggest that the football law
makers and law interpreters should go back to first principles.
What is the purpose that the offside law seeks to fulfil ? Is
it, for instance, to rule out a brilliant piece of skill because
an attackers knee happened to be ten millimetres in front of
where the last line was determined to be ? Is it, perhaps, to
stop attackers hanging about in the opponents' penalty area
waiting to receive a long ball ? Maybe it's to keep a good ebb
and flow of attack and defence ? Then, when the purpose of the
offside law has been properly determined, protocols as to how it
should be measured and applied with have a greater force and
authority.
#Post#: 99480--------------------------------------------------
Re: Reinventing the wheel - FIFA/Wenger on offside
DIR By: rustyref
Date: January 2, 2026, 11:29 am
---------------------------------------------------------
It would ruin football as a spectacle. Defenders won't be able
to risk playing an offside trap so will have to drop deeper,
which in effect negates the entire point of having the offside
law. Also a nightmare for ARs, they have trained for decades in
many cases to get offsides correct under the current law, now
would have to learn from scratch.
#Post#: 99487--------------------------------------------------
Re: Reinventing the wheel - FIFA/Wenger on offside
DIR By: mac
Date: January 2, 2026, 12:50 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Ridiculous. How about adapting VAR in the handful of games
worldwide that have it, rather than changing every other game
that doesn’t.
Instead of the stupid way in which attacker can be offside by
their kneecap, it’s equally stupid that someone can be onside
due to the defender’s big toe.
All this does it upset someone different.
*****************************************************
Page 1 of 2
DIR Next Page