Watching match of the day, I gather that linesmen/lineswomen don’t have to flag for offsides - even quite obvious ones, until a goal is eventually scored from the attack. Then var will have a look at it. Crackers, barmy !, Have any of the recent changes to the rules actually benefited the game.
Just wait till a striker breaks a keepers legs when they both race for a ball when it was obviously offside and the linesman has been told to just pretend it wasn't.
I'll bet, when we get back to being able to attend, folk will give the linesman some proper earache every time it happens because they don't know the rules. People still had a go at the lino for waiting until the player showed himself to be active before flagging, even though that rule change was made several years ago.
To be fair, that one kinda makes sense. If the flag goes up straight away and the ref blows, and the attacker is onside, VAR can't do anything about it. If the flag stays down until the attack begins to die out, then there's no harm done. If the flag stays down until the shot has either gone out of play, or if the attacker scores, VAR "should" review it and come to the right outcome. The only risk to this is, as SuperTyke says, if an injury is caused, after play should have been pulled back. But I suppose that's the risk you run by being on the field anyway.
The one that really grinds my gears, is when the opposition is taking a corner, and people shout "the ball isn't on the line". It doesn't have to be, it only has to be overhanging the line.
That's a stupid rule though that should be changed. If it annoys pretty much every supporter then it's not a good rule
You could argue though, that's the rule for every other line on the pitch? The ball has to completely cross the goal-line for a goal, or the byline or touchline for the ball to be out of play. The difference is only 4 inches after all.
If the difference is only 4 inches, why did they start messing about with the rules (or their interpretation). Why not leave it as it was back in the Good Old Days? I hate to think how many meetings the FA/FIFA have had in order to move a ball 4 inches. All on full expenses no doubt.
I'm not sure that rule has ever been changed has it? It's always been the rule as far as I can remember (admittedly only as far back as the early 90s). I suppose it's easier to see when a ball has fully crossed the line as opposed to touching the line.
Wondered what was happening at the Liverpool versus Leeds game yesterday, when the Leeds attacker looked to be offside and was jostling for the ball with Trent Alexander Arnold. The latter just got in front of the Leeds man and headed the all into his own net. Only then, did the Assistant put his flag up to signal offside. I bet Klopp would have been fuming if the referee had allowed it after looking at the VAR footage. Football was intended to be a simple game. Why they have to complicate it by introducing these ludicrous rule changes is beyond the wit of man.
Is this now for all offside decisions - you only bother if they score a goal - what would have happened had Alexander Arnold headed it for a corner like he intended to would Leeds then have had the corner they shouldnt have had?