You are the ref 1

[Josedinho]

A player scythes down an opponent, two-footed, over the top - a definitive red card offence. However, the ball bounces kindly for the other team and they have an excellent chance of scoring. You allow play to continue, making a mental note to send the player off next time there is a break in play. The goal opportunity is denied by a miracle one-handed save by the goalkeeper. A team-mate instantly kicks the ball upfield to the player, who should have been sent off. He is played onside by the player he hacked down and he goes on to score.

It just can't happen like that. If it is an excellent chance of scoring then it can't be in your own half !! If you are not in your own half you can't be playing someone onside.

In fairy land you can't rule out a goal because you should have stopped the game and sent somebody off. Goal would stand and the scorer gets the boot. If an epl game the ref disappears for a few weeks. If in the spl then you get slapped on the back by the spl/sfa.

Sandy

You are stood in your own half 10 yards short of the half way line, player flies in and two foots you but the ball shoots of to play your striker through and give him a one on one. Everybody chases back ref waves play on. Keeper saves and defender hoofs ball up field. Fouling git is played onside by crippled sunshine who is slowly getting to his feet as the defenders are playing him offside but failed to realise there player on the ground was playing him on. He picks up the ball runs towards goal and scores an audacious lob.

Unlikely? yes
Stranger things have happened though

[matt674]

here you go. I thought it was only women that don't get offside, must be women and monkeys

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.

International F.A.
Board Decision 1
In the definition of offside position,
“nearer to his opponents’ goal line”
means that any part of his head, body
or feet is nearer to his opponents’ goal
line than both the ball and the second
last opponent. The arms are not
included in this definition.
Decision 2
The definitions of elements of
involvement in active play are as
follows:
Interfering with play means playing
or touching the ball passed or touched
by a team-mate
Interfering with an opponent means
preventing an opponent from playing
or being able to play the ball by
clearly obstructing the opponent’s line
of vision or movements or making a
gesture or movement which, in the
opinion of the referee, deceives or
distracts an opponent
Gaining an advantage by being in
that position means playing a ball that
rebounds to him off a goal-post or the
crossbar having been in an offside
position or playing the ball that
rebounds to him off an opponent
having been in an offside position

p.s. we reserve the right to change this whenever we feel like it and when it suits us or gets us out of a tricky situation

FYP

so do they have rules on what is deemed to be involved in active play?

no - didnt think so, and yet they say "in the opinion of the referee"...........

[gatso]

so do they have rules on what is deemed to be involved in active play?

no - didnt think so, and yet they say "in the opinion of the referee"...........

err, yes, see 'decision 2' above. it really is like explaining it to a girl. I'll take you through it with pepper pots and ketchup bottles next time I see you if you like.

[Maxriddles]

I'd allow the goal then send him off.

If Man U or Chelsea are involved I would then stand my ground when I am surrounded by half the team and red card every player who makes physical contact with me and book those who just offer just verbal dissent, so in fact I actually abandon the game as this should leave them with less than seven men.

[matt674]

so do they have rules on what is deemed to be involved in active play?

no - didnt think so, and yet they say "in the opinion of the referee"...........

err, yes, see 'decision 2' above. it really is like explaining it to a girl. I'll take you through it with pepper pots and ketchup bottles next time I see you if you like.

that just says the same thing though "in the opinion of the referee" - and thats where the problem is, one referee will interpret it different than another. How about just one rule, you are either offside or onside, no ifs or buts or maybes

on or off, simple

[gatso]

dangerous play is also in the opinion of the referee as is obstruction, whether or not a keeper has control of the ball, whether a backpass is deliberate, whether floodlighting is adequate, whether conduct is unsporting, etc, etc.

for all of these one ref will interpret differently from another ref.

gives us loads of things to moan about when we get battered next season

[matt674]

i know, thats what i'm building up to - as many excuses already as possible. Especially the standard of refereeing in the championship

still it could be worse - we could be spending next season in league 1

 

[gatso]

i know, thats what i'm building up to - as many excuses already as possible. Especially the standard of refereeing in the championship

still it could be worse - we could be spending next season in league 1

 

promotion year coming up mate, Toddy's fit and signed up for another year so we might get some goals

[Josedinho]

Keith Hackett gave his answer to this one

"i wouldn't let it happen"

What's the point in asking him the answer if he's just going to say it will never happen?