Netherlands considers scrapping offside in amateur football to end violent rows

Almost 2,000 matches were stopped last season

Referee Ovidiu Hategan disallows a Shamrock Rovers goal for offside. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile

The Dutch football association (KNVB) is considering doing away with the offside law in the amateur game to limit the rising number of matches halted because of aggression over disputed decisions.

The KNVB said abolishing offsides at the lower levels of the game, where there are no KNVB officials and matches are flagged by club members, could lead to an end to the threats and violence in amateur football in the country.