My solution for VAR and offside

So, as far as I am aware the biggest arguments about VAR this season have been handball and offside. Not gonna address the handball rule as that's a whole different discussion but I think there is a way to simplify the offside rule to suit VAR checks better, which also makes it easier for footballers to judge. I think a big part of the problem is that the current VAR implementation forgets that footballers are human beings.

Simply make it only about parts of the body touching the ground or where they last touched the ground. Other parts of the body should be irrelevant. This way, a superior athlete is not punished for a better body lean than the defender (this is what happened with Pukki). Since offside is designed to prevent "goal hanging" and unfair "head starts" on attacking runs, the only thing which would really give an advantage would be those parts of the body which are propelling the footballer (usually feet). An arm, head or other parts of the body being in an offside position doesn't really give any advantage if they are not moving.

So, 99% of the time this will be the feet. I don't care so much about how it is implemented as long as it is clear - there are many options. For example: both feet have to be level or behind the defender's feet, at least one foot has to be, or both or one foot as to partially break the plane of at least one of the defender's feet etc.

When I say where the body part last touched the ground, this is to avoid a ridiculous loophole where the attacker or defender jumps just before the ball is played to negate an offside position. The reason I suggest body part touching the ground rather than simply the feet, is because a defender could throw himself to the ground toward his own goal to block a first time shot

It is simple, and far easier to prove with VAR. The officials in games without VAR only need to focus across the line on one area at a time to check for offside. It is also better for the footballer because (in my experience of sports coaching at least) it is far easier to judge and control the positioning of the feet than to also judge where the end of your head is, or to adapt your running style to avoid a hand offside, or as somebody mentioned to point to where the ball should be played without suddenly being offside. It's also similarly clearer for the defenders to judge.

Posted By: Steve in Holland on January 8th 2020 at 09:48:04

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