Off-side Rules

[Guest Neo]

Who understands fully when a player is active or inactive?

I always considered a player to be inactive provided he made no attempt for the ball, however, he became active as soon as the ball was in front of him. However, this can still give the offensive team a big advantage.

I got to thinking when I watched a particular incident in the Man City v Tottenham game. A pass was sprayed left to Robbie Fowler who ran on to it from an on-side position; not a problem. Whilst he was running on to it, Anelka who had been standing a good 10 yards off-side when the ball was played, retreated a couple of yards (whilst doing the Christian arms in the air bit (city link!!)).

As soon as Fowler got beyond Anelka, he then turned and run towards the net screaming for the pass.

Now, when Fowler played the pass, the one defender who had tracked back got a block on the ball. However, there was no off-side and the corner was given.

Whilst the above seems fine in terms of my interpretation of the rules, it seems totally unjust that a player can gain an advantage on the defence by standing in an off-side position (if the right pass is played to a team-mate).

From the defenders perspective, why worry about Anelka? It seems that this rule although simple in theory has several problems in practice.

I know that as City fans we would love it if we benefited from that type of incident tomorrow; on the other hand, would be gutted, slating the ref etc. if we were on the receiving end.

What’s think? Did anybody see the incident?

[terpin]

Yes I saw the incident yesterday and thought the same as you.

The is far too much confusion about the offside rule - the main points being covered in your post.

It is not fair that Anelka could of scored from that situation after being so far offside when the initial ball was played. He is getting a clear advantage from breaking the rules.

In instances like this it is hard for the linesman to know when a player that was offside in the first instance has joined back up with play as he is watching other players and the ball - if you get what I mean!

There isn't an obvious solution because you can't say anyone in an offside position interfering or not should be penalised because you get the back four standing on the half line for the majority of the game.

Also officials interpretation of incidents like this are different which cause the problem of inconcsistency.

Who knows eh?!

[Guest Neo]

I think it would make it easier all round if this active/inactive rule was taken away.

It will be frustrating going back to more stoppages, however, it will make officiating easier as so many mistakes are being made by linesmen with genuine off-sides being missed because they are trying to watch when the pass is made, the position of the front player and ALSO NOW the reaction of the player who is obviously off-side in terms of is he making himself active.

It will also take us back to the time when a forward didn't just saunter back slowly and made an effort to get in position for the next attacking ball.

[Maltshoveller]

The FA dont like refs to use common sense, they like everything to be

black or white

So the easy thing to do is

if your ON the pitch your ACTIVE

or is that to simple

[The Man In Black]