offside rule

Big debate in Germany at the moment over the offside rule. Specifically, a lot of people are calling for the "not interfering with play" section of the rule to be withdrawn as it is causing oo much confusion. The main German sports paper "kicker" undertook a survey and the results were as follows:
Fans: a web poll was conducted, approx 8,800 people voted, just over 80% in favour of abolishing the rule.
Players: all 18 captains in the bundesliga were asked. 10 said it should be abolished, 5 said it shouldn't, 2 said it wasn't that simple and 1, our old friend Mr Effenberg said he "couldn't give a toss."

Anyone here got similar/contrasing opinions?

It would appear FIFA have further extended the 'new' offside law in recent seasons.

Used to be that you were not interfeering in play if say on the left wing while ball passed to right wing. Furthermore i think you couldn;t rejoin the move & score as were technically offside when the move started.

Now you can actually be standing in offside position even next to the player who plays the ball & then rejoin the play when he moves to bring you onside & score.

I think the first version of was simple enough with current version very confusing especially for fans who unlike the linesman (sorry refs assistant) are following the ball.

:confused:

l

Oh for gods sake! It seems to be the rule most people can't get to grips with (I don't think it's THAT hard) so whatdo they do only go and complicate it further. It'll end up like american football (sorry james ;) ) or cricket where most of the fans and half the players don't know what they're doing! :D

Quote:

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Originally posted by pete
It would appear FIFA have further extended the 'new' offside law in recent seasons.

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FIFA have not changed the rules in recent seasons.
It all comes down to the interpretation of the rules by the official.

Offside Position
It is not an offence in itself to be in an
offside position.
A player is in an offside position if:
*he is nearer to his opponents’ goal line than
both the ball and the second last opponent
A player is not in an offside position if:
*he is in his own half of the field of play
or
*he is level with the second last opponent
or
*he is level with the last two opponents

Offence
A player in an offside position is only
penalised if, at the moment the ball touches
or is played by one of his team, he is, in the
opinion of the referee, involved in active play
by:
*interfering with play
or
*interfering with an opponent
or
*gaining an advantage by being in that
position

No Offence
There is no offside offence if a player receives
the ball directly from:
*a goal kick
or
*a throw-in
or
*a corner kick

Infringements/Sanctions
For any offside offence, the referee awards an
indirect free kick to the opposing team to be
taken from the place where the infringement
occurred.

I love this bit though:
Modifications
Subject to the agreement of the national association concerned and provided the principles of
these Laws are maintained, the Laws may be modified in their application for matches for players
of under 16 years of age, for women footballers, for veteran footballers (over 35 years) and for
players with disabilities.

We could have used the over 35 years of age bit for the past couple of seasons. :D

just keep the rule as it is???