Now, the correct interpretation of the law may well be that van Nistelrooy was onside, but the law as written is impossible to interpret clearly, and in the specific case of the Holland goal, van Nistelrooy was offside by any definition in keeping with the spirit of the law. It would be an absolute nightmare to try to write up a perfect offside law, so maybe I just have to accept that out of any written law will arise flaws in real life situations. That’s ok, that’s football.

The only decent MLS officials it seems are Canadian. Go figure?

Uefa general secretary David Taylor said Swedish referee Peter Frojdfeldt and his assistant Stefan Wittberg were absolutely correct in their interpretation.

He told a news conference: “There is a lack of understanding as to why this particular goal was awarded. In fact some television commentators have insisted the goal was clearly offside, but that is not the case.

“The player was not offside because in addition to the goalkeeper there was another Italian player in front of the goalscorer. Even though he had fallen off the pitch his position was still relevant for the purposes of the offside law.

“Not many people, even in the game, and I include the players, know this interpretation.

“Incidents like this are very unusual – although I’m informed that there was an incident like this about a month ago in a Swiss Super League match between FC Sion and FC Basel 1893.”

and the following from the USSF National Instructor Jim Allen and his “Ask a Referee” column:

Quote:
“One answer for three questions.

Jim Allen

> >Question: I was watching the Euro Cup 2008 qualifier between Italy
> >and The Netherlands. The first goal generated some controversy.
> >
> >During a free kick, the keeper pushed a defender beyond the goal
> >line. The Dutch recovered the deflected ball and put it back into
> >the box to where Van Nistlerooy directs the ball into the goal.
> >Based on the players on the field, he was clearly in an offside
> >position but the flag was not raised.
> >
> >My question is whether or not the defensive player that was on the
> >ground beyond the goal line should have been counted as the last
> >defender, meaning the attacking player was not offside, even though
> >he was not within the boundaries of the field? Or is the fact that
> >he did not come back into play prior to the goal means that he is
> >not an active player and the call should have been that the
> >attacking player was offside?

USSF answer (June 10, 2008):
You seem to have a grasp on the problem, which is actually not a
problem at all — no matter what the TV announcers may have suggested.

This information in the USSF publication “Advice to Referees on the
Laws of the Game” should give you all the additional information you
need:
11.11 DEFENDER LEGALLY OFF THE FIELD OF PLAY
A defender who leaves the field during the course of play and does
not immediately return must still be considered in determining where
the second to last defender is for the purpose of judging which
attackers are in an offside position. Such a defender is considered
to be on the touch line or goal line closest to his or her off-field
position. A defender who leaves the field with the referee’s
permission (and who thus requires the referee’s permission to return)
is not included in determining offside position.”

Jim’s message to me included this postscript:
“Read your Advice to Referees. The defender is off the field of play
during the course of play. Life is hard for the Italians, good for
the Dutch.”

So, fans and fellow refs – this is the OFFICIAL word on the call – Ruud’s goal counts and the italian player should have gotten back up and returned to play ASAP instead of laying on the ground hoping that would make an offside situation happen.

Kap Kaplowitz
USSF Associate Referee Instructor

However, if you watch every panel discussion while thinking ‘Andy Gray is totally hitting that back at the Bristol Clarion’ the broadcast is so much more enjoyable.

Poor on-screen talent aside, ESPN’s coverage has been stunning. The hi-def looks and sounds amazing. I have seen the future of football on tv and it has cowbells coming out of one speaker and drums out of another and the orange just looks sooooo orange.