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The International Football Association Board (IFAB) have amended the interpretation of the offside law, taking effect from the 2015-16 season onwards. The changes are concerned with the 'interfereing with an opponent' aspect of the law. The new interpretation is the results of an IFAB technical sub-committee meeting in June of this year. With just a few days to go until the start of the new season, we take a look at the amendments in more detail.
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In addition to the situations already outlined in the Laws of the Game, a player in an offside position shall also be penalised if he:
- clearly attempts to play a ball which is close to him when this action impacts on an opponent
- makes an obvious action which clearly impacts on the ability of an opponent to play the ball
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Previously, players would only be judged to be ‘interfering with an opponent’ if there was either a clear obstruction of the opponent’s line of vision, or an attacker had challenged an opponent for the ball. The new guidance introduces the concepts of attempting to play the ball, impacting on an opponent or making an obvious action which impacts an opponent’s ability to play the ball.
The changes may appear to be minor, but had these changes been in place last season, several goals would have been disallowed. Whereas last season a player could attempt to go for the ball and not be deemed to be interfering with play, this season they would be flagged offside. Both players and officials are likely to take a few weeks to get used to the amendments, but whether the changes will reduce controversy in the offside law remains to be seen. |