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New offside rule good for football, says Referees' chief Mike Riley

New rules are being introduced affecting the offside decisions in football
Image: New rules are being introduced affecting the offside decisions in football

The offside rule changes will make it more understandable for fans and players, referees' chief Mike Riley has told SSNHQ.

Footballers have previously been allowed to occupy offside positions without being punished in certain situations depending on whether officials have deemed their roles to be actively involved in play or not.

Riley outlines the basics of the new rules and provides a few examples to explain how it may affect the game.

Speaking to Sky Sports News HQ at the Premier League launch, Riley said: "Previously a player to be in an offside position and be penalised, they would have to touch the ball or play the ball.

"The IFAB (International Football Association Board) has clarified this. They now say to be considered to be offside the player has to make a clear attempt to play the ball, be close to the ball and have an impact on the opponent, or to make an obvious action to have an impact of the opponent.

"So it actually makes it more understandable for football people. So when a player has an impact on a defending player they can be considered offside."

MATCH 1: Arsenal v Liverpool, 4 April 2015 

Also See:

Offside rule 4
Image: Arsenal v Liverpool - is Sterling affecting play?

THE SCENARIO: Liverpool are on the attack and the ball is looped into the Arsenal box with Raheem Sterling lurking close to the Gunners goal and the defensive line pushing out quickly. There's no offside flag............

THIS SEASON’S DECISION: This would be offside.

RILEY SAYS: Last season this would not be considered offside as the player didn’t touch or play the ball but obviously it has an impact on the game. Raheem Sterling blocks the defending player from being able to chase. The ball gets played into the penalty area, Sterling is coming back, makes contact with the Arsenal player and stops him from closing down on the other attacking players.

He has had an impact on that defender. Morally, he has come from an offside position and so he should be considered offside. This season with the new interpretation that would be considered offside.

MATCH 2: Everton v Man Utd, 26 April 2015 

Offside rule 5
Image: Everton v Man Utd - should Lukaku be penalised?

THE SCENARIO: Everton are leading 3-0 and the United defence are wobbling. Ross Barkley lifts the ball over the United defence looking for Romelu Lukaku, who is in an offside position, but the ball runs past him to Kevin Mirallas instead and he runs onto it from an onside position. Lukaku stops briefly then runs alongside him looking for a pass as the two Everton players close in on David de Gea with no defenders in between. Mirallas chooses to shoot himself rather than pass and scores, with the goal awarded.

THIS SEASON’S DECISION: No change. Player is not deemed to be offside. Goal awarded.

RILEY SAYS: This is a good example of where the player gets involved but doesn’t touch the ball. The Everton striker is in the offside position. Last year it would not be offside as he didn’t touch or play the ball. This year it still wouldn’t be an offside offence, because the player, whilst being in an offside position, doesn’t make a clear attempt to play the ball, doesn’t impact opposing players and isn’t close to the ball.

MATCH 3: Tottenham v Chelsea, 1 Jan 2015 

Offisde rule 3
Image: Tottenham v Chelsea - Costa taps in but has been interfering with the Spurs goalkeeper?

THE SCENARIO: A memorable 5-3 win for Spurs but they didn't star very well after conceding an early goal. Eden Hazard's mazy run ended in a shot against a post, with Oscar firing the ball back towards Diego Costa who tapped in the opener.

THIS SEASON’S DECISION: Offside.

RILEY SAYS: This is a good example as how the law of interpretation has changed. Last season this was penalised as offside as the Tottenham player didn’t touch the ball but you can see as the cross comes over, the goalkeeper can’t decide whether to commit to diving in front of Costa or dive to try to save the ball.  It impacts on his decision making. Costa is close to the ball, makes an attempt to play the ball and he makes an impact on the goalkeeper's decision, so Costa would be penalised for being offside.

MATCH 4: Man Utd v Stoke City, Dec 2 2014 

Offside 2
Image: Man Utd v Stoke - Rojo is fully involved but should the goal stand?

THE SCENARIO: United are leading 2-1 and pressing forward. Juan Mata swings the ball in from the left, Marcos Rojo is in an offside position when the ball is kicked, he leaps well, does not touch the ball, and it slips into the far corner. 

THIS SEASON'S DECISION: Offside.

RILEY SAYS: This is a good example of how a player who didn’t touch the ball has an impact. The Stoke 'keeper can't decide whether to come for the cross or stay and make the save. As the ball is played over Rojo jumps for the ball, gets very close to it, clearly attempts to play it. The keeper can't commit, does he dive, does he come for the cross? It clearly has an impact on him. Last season we couldn’t penalise this but this season it would meet the criteria. 

MATCH 5: Tottenham v Burnley, 20 Dec 2014

Offside rule 1
Image: Tottenham v Burnley - Eriksen is close to the ball but is he interfering?

THE SCENARIO:  Tottenham have a simple looking free-kick on left. Harry Kane takes a quick one and threads it through towards Christian Eriksen who's in an offside position but the forward doesn't touch the ball. Spurs go and the cross comes in and a goal is scored. 

THIS SEASON'S DECISION: Goal stands.

RILEY SAYS: This is another example of how not everything this season would be offside. The ball is played through, Eriksen is clearly in an offside position but he doesn’t attempt to play the ball. Yes, he is close but the defending players are not affected by it as they can see the ball is going past him. Yes he is close, no he doesn’t attempt to play it and he doesn’t affect opposing players. So last year it wouldn’t have been penalised and this year it wouldn’t either.

The new offside rule takes effect from the start of the 2015/16 season
Image: The new offside rule takes effect from the start of the 2015/16 season

OVERVIEW

Riley added: "There has been an awful lot of work concerning these new changes. We have produced DVDs, presentations that have been given to all the Premier League clubs, all the Football League clubs.

"We have met with all the managers in pre-season. We have conducted a number of club visits where we sit down with the players and we take them through these examples and more.

"It is important on the opening day we all know what we want to achieve. It will inevitably lead to more disallowed goals.

"We have seen examples here where last season we didn’t penalise, but this season we will. But what it will be based on with the defenders and attackers is to stay onside in those situations to score the goals."

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