The changes to the already-pretty-complex offside rule are a little ambiguous. Now an attacking player in an offside position who doesn’t make contact with the ball but hinders an opponent is now regarded as offside.
The obvious example of which was in Liverpool’s fixture with newly-promoted Bournemouth on August 17.
Under the new rule; Liverpool’s goal should have been referred to as ‘goal’ in the newspapers the following morning. Number 10, Coutinho, knew he was offside, yet he attempted to make contact with Henderson’s cross; clearly interfering with Boruc, Bournemouth’s ‘keeper, as he scampered across his goal. Benteke turned the ball home and was onside; but the goal should have been disallowed nevertheless.
BBC Football state in their match report that, 'The offside rule has been tweaked to supposedly clear up the grey area of when a player is interfering with play...' As far as I can tell, however, this tweak has created a whole new grey area. I miss the days when you were simply offside and there were no clauses inserted. As someone rather famous once said, 'If a player is not interfering with play or seeking to gain an advantage, then he should be.'
The other changes; feigning injury, technical area code of conduct and players surrounding the referee are all good changes and nothing too major for fans to worry about. (Just sounds a little to me like someone is trying to make Chelsea FC behave a little better!) It's about time players realise that they are may in charge off the pitch; with contracts, agents, perks, add-ons, etc. But on the pitch, they are role models and need to show respect to the referee, opponents and everyone else in the stadium actually. A big thing I have noticed, (and even my wife agrees; something that happens less often than a solar eclipse), is players not leaving the pitch after being red-carded. Do they think by hanging around complaining that the referee may actually change his mind? It's time they realise that the longer they take to get off the field, the worse they look and the more time will be added as their team tries to cope with one less player.
I don't think we have heard the last of the new offside change, but the others should all improve our football experience this season.
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