I seem to vaguely recall that when offside rules were changed a couple of years ago, there was a scenario where a player stood near a corner flag, the ball was played down the other wing(so was not offside), they then ran into the box, the ball was passed across and he tapped in. As a result the rules were amended(I think). That said Wiki, which I know is not 100% explains the current offside rule quite well in the diagrams. These suggest Abraham was deemed to be offside when James received the ball(because he gained an advantage after), but equally he was not offside when James passed to him (if he passed backwards). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Offside_(association_football)
Gained no advantage there. Just Sibbacks got to run 5 yards past Abraham to even have a chance of defending the cross properly. It’s a nuts rule.
I’m not saying I completely agree with it, but in theory if James catches up to Abraham’s level, the defenders can too?
The thing is I can find no wording that suggests that ISN'T an offside position or that the winger running and crossing a few seconds later isn't the same phase of play. I can find references to a save by the keeper ending the phase of play but nothing about the winger recieving or passing to him ending it. I can find reference to "gaining an advantage" from being in an offside position being offside.
I’ve stopped learning the rules, the minute I think I’ve got to grips with them, they change them again
Not really because for a start the defenders should be facing the opposite way and have to turn round before running back. James should already be heading in the direction of the ball. The simple fact is that the sole reason that Abraham was so far ahead of sibbick when the ball was played to him was due to him gaining an advantage from being so far ahead of him a few seconds earlier when the ball to James was played. It used to be absolutely clear that that was offside but despite reading the laws of the game, the guidance to referees and pretty much every source I can find it's about as clear as mud what can end a phase of play (other than a save by the keeper) and what defines"gaining an advantage" other than blocking a defender. How can anyone be expected to understand rules these days when they make them so confusing and ambiguous and blatantly ignore key issues
That's what I thought, from her angle near the front of the penalty area, Tammy would have looked 2 yards onside.