Manchester City fans might disagree, but I think the events of the past month in the English Premier League are the latest example of why the offside laws need a long hard look. Have you ever asked yourself; what if there was no offside?
I know it seems a bit extreme to even consider, but I ask; what would be the downside? I will let my readers poke holes in that proposal but there is no doubt, it would change the game.
Most obviously no offside would have the huge benefit of creating more goals. Changes have always been made in the name of more goals, removing offside would certainly continue that evolution. There are not many who would argue that no offside would create more goals, so what other benefits would this rule change force?
The most attractive feature of this offside-less football utopia would be the elimination of every refereeing decision and VAR review associated with offside. There is no doubt that VAR is useful in many instances but getting calls ‘right’ is not worth muddling one of the purest moments in all of sports. The togetherness that celebrating a goal with no inhibition brings to clubs and their fans is truly priceless- especially in moments of global division like right now.
Removing offside is the simplest answer to the question of how can we fix the offside rule, but what other options might there be that would continue the slow march towards an offside-less game?
There are a number of options that would improve the state of the game as its played now; removing offside, moving the ‘halfway line’ closer to the opponents goal, removing offside from the purview of VAR, and so many others! Regardless of what options you see as the best going forward, I think we can all agree the current state of the game (especially the offside rule) is in need of a shake up, so let’s change the game!
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