FIFA amends the offside law

FIFA amends the offside law

after Ruud van Nistelrooy controversial goal against Italy in Euro 2008 cause lots of tension in the game when he score what looked to be an offside goal.

Ruud van Nistelrooy was the last player facing the italian golie but there was an injured Italian player lying behind the line when he scored. Lots of discussion then rise whether the Dutch striker, Ruud van Nistelrooy was onside because of injured Italian player or not. To avoid unnecessary disagreements with match officials, FIFA have now made amendments of its law.

FIFA amends offside law amendment

The old offside Law read
When an offside offence occurs the referee awards an indirect free kick to be taken from the position of the offending player when the ball was last played to him by one of his teammates.

If a defending player steps behind his own goal line in order to place an opponent in an offside position, the referee must allow play to continue and caution the defender for deliberately leaving the field of play without the referee's permission when the ball is next out of play.

The amendment to Law 11 reads
When an offside offence occurs the referee awards an indirect free kick to be taken from the position of the offending player when the ball was last played to him by one of his teammates.

Any defending player leaving the field of play for any reason without the referee's permission shall be considered to be on his own goal line or touch line for the purposes of offside until the next stoppage in play. If the player leaves the field of play deliberately, he must be cautioned when the ball is next out of play.

FIFA also made amendment on penalty shoot out law. From now on;
If at the end of the match and before the kicks start to be taken from the penalty mark, one team has a greater number of players than its opponents, it must reduce its number to equate with that of its opponents and the team captain must inform the referee of the name and number of each player excluded. Any player excluded may not participate in kicks from the penalty mark. FIFA amended offside law came in effect on July 1.