In outdoor soccer, or outdoor football as it is known in most of the world, an offside foul is called when an offensive player, or attacking player, is passed the ball and there are not at least two opponents between him or her and the goal line. Usually, these are the goalkeeper and one other defender, but not necessarily. The penalty for an offside foul is that the other team is given possession of the ball. This rule was created to prevent the “easy pickings” near the opponent’s goal. A long pass and a clean strike is all that would ensure a goal if this off-side rule had not been there.
Over the years there have been suggestions to ban this rule as it can result in some very controversial decisions by the referees. Firstly, the game of soccer still grants much of the power to the ground officials by restricting the role of technology thus as seen in many matches official tend to make faulty decisions regarding the off side causing either side a big disadvantage. This also keeps critics on their toes to pounce on any errors committed by the officials. Many articles have been published from time to time arguing that a human eye cannot possibly determine the off side foul as it requires efficiency which is beyond the capacity of a human mind. In the running season of the EPL there have been controversial decisions by the referee some of which have been agreed upon as completely unfair. The first goal of Arsenal against Middleborough kept me wondering what on earth had the assistant been thinking when he kept the flag down. Even in the La liga many wrong off side decisions have been made by the assistant causing teams to lose some very crucial points.
Secondly , While there are many who cannot possibly think of soccer without offside, there exists a mind set amongst certain group of football followers that this rule does more bad than good to the game. The basic argument which with these people support their case is the “off side trap”. The offside trap is...