Generally I'm in favour but you know it's going to be controversial. I love the bit where Gallagher says refs will hopefully be generally prepared when the new season starts. Clearly a man to be trusted.
Unbelievable!
-- Edited by Exetermiller on Tuesday 4th of August 2015 09:16:19 AM
Nothing worse than an 'inactive' player stood in the view of a keeper in an offside position and a goal is given because he didn't touch the ball. I think the new rule makes sense but the ability of referees to interpret it correctly is another thing entirely.
While I agree the principal, an offside player is being assessed in the next passage of play, how much more are going to place on referees? In ice hockey there's a blue line that stretches across the attacking 3rd of the pitch, the first thing inside that attacking 3rd has to be the puck, if any attacking player steps inside first, active or not, you're offside. Its simple, not open to interpretation and you take the emphasis away from the ref, and onto the player who should be more careful.
This ruling is and always has been about using offside to keep the scores down, but also try to lessen its impact on stoppages. Either make it so you're offside each and every time like it used to be, or for godsake introduce cricket or tennis style tech the 4th official can see and comm to the ref, you can't hang in the middle