Top coaches prompt action on offside rule

The controversial offside law could be changed after Europe’s most senior club coaches won the support of UEFA for an alteration to the rule.

UEFA’s technical director Andy Roxburgh will raise the issue with FIFA after members of Europe’s elite coaches forum – including Arsene Wenger, Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourinho and Gerard Houllier – complained about the current interpretation of ’not interfering with play’.

The coaches also want changes to the automatic red card for fouls in the penalty area that deny a goal-scoring opportunity.

Roxburgh said: “A lot of our colleagues are being worried about the interpretation of passive offside being exploited.

“Gerard Houllier even believes that if we don’t change this interpretation it’s going to change the face of the game.

“Teams are already working on strategies and coaches adapting to the interpretation. If there’s a clear gaining of an advantage then it should be judged offside.”

Under the current interpretation a player can remain in an offside position virtually up until the moment he kicks the ball into the net, and that caused several controversial incidents in the Premiership last season.

Roxburgh accepts there will always be a grey area surrounding offsides but he and the club coaches believe the interpretation is too lax at the moment.

He added: “The ruling needs to be tightened up, it caused chaos in England last season.

“If for example a striker is in an offside position in the centre of the pitch when the ball is played down the flank and the winger then quickly crosses then he has clearly gained an advantage from being offside in the first place - even if he was onside when he actually scored.

“There is a time element to it. If the winger beats two players and then crosses it for the striker then there should be no problem.

“Players can still stay in an offside position and try to time their run but if the ball is played forward and there is a quick advantage gained then it would be ruled offside.

“This is something that would have to go to the FA International Board but it needs changing.”

Regarding automatic dismissals, the coaches and Roxburgh believe referees should be given flexibility when a foul occurs inside the penalty box.

Roxburgh said: “We all accept that if the last man brings someone down outside the box and denies them a goal-scoring chance then there is no choice but a red card.

“But, if he brings them down inside the box they get a penalty, so you are giving them that goal-scoring chance back.

“In that situation the referee should have the option of red or yellow. If it’s a violent tackle then a red card but if it’s a relatively innocuous challenge – the keeper trying to save it and the striker falling over his hand for example – then just a yellow.

“At the moment the referee has no choice.”

No changes can be made until the next meeting of the FA International Board in February but UEFA’s report will be submitted to FIFA for consideration.