It seems to have started again. At Euro 2024, the subject of small offsides is once again being raised. After the end of the round of 16 match between Germany and Denmark (2-0), visiting coach Kasper Julmann showed up with a phone in his hand for a short interview with the broadcaster. In it, he showed only one image. We are talking, of course, about Thomas Delaney’s small offside, which led to the Danes’ goal being disallowed. The coach then went to a press conference, where journalists from various media gathered, and began to show them the image that everyone had already seen in the match broadcast. The coach’s indignation was reduced to the fact that goals should not be disallowed for such small offsides.
Kasper Juhlmann
Photo: Frame from the video
It’s surprising how popular this belief is among football fans. So it’s time to refresh your mind on why being offside, even by 1cm, is still offside. Just like the five-metre mark.
First of all, there are rules. It is impossible to change them during the tournament, because it is unsportsmanlike and creates chaos. The referees had no chance to count the Danes’ goal. Otherwise, they would have been suspended for a long time and would hardly ever play matches at this level again. But the overall issue is different. The debate is precisely about why the rule cannot be changed for future tournaments.
Thomas Delaney is offside
Photo: Frame from the broadcast.
There are several answers here. Let’s start with the main thing. Whatever the tolerance allowed, microscopic offsides will not disappear. Let’s say they allow a 10 cm offside, then some other coach will wave his phone in the same way, complaining about an 11 cm offside. In his opinion, this would be unfair. It is impossible to find the distance at which microscopic offsides disappear. For the same reason, “Wenger’s offside” seems like a utopia. The French coach suggested setting offside only when there is a space between players (if the projections of the bodies overlap, then there is no offside).
There is another interesting nuance regarding the work of the referees. In general, it is difficult to record offside, because it is necessary to take into account two points on the field at the same time: the moment of the pass and the play on the offside line. Can you imagine what it will be like for the referees if they make the criteria even more complicated up to the 10 cm or the body allowed? It is almost impossible to distinguish it. Certainly more difficult than any protuberance of the body (except the arm, of course).
Offside in the match Portugal – Czech Republic
Photo: Dan Mullan/Getty Images
And here the presence of VAR is not worth mentioning. Video replays are rarely included. Even if we take into account all the reasons for interference, the average is less than one per match. Approximately 95% of offsides are sanctioned by the referees themselves. So, although we have not completely abandoned the touch judges, talking about innovation is also problematic from the point of view of the referees’ work.
The Danish coach separately pointed out that because of this slight offside his player did not gain an advantage. And this is true: I did not get it. It simply does not matter. It is unrealistic to calculate the advantage when you have an advantage. You do not know how fast the attacker, defender and goalkeeper will run. And in football there is no such thing as always keeping in mind whether the player has gained an advantage. If you lift your foot off the ground while shooting, no one cares whether that gave you an advantage. In any case, this is a violation of the rules. If the ball hits the attacker’s hand, the same thing happens. You may have made your situation even more difficult, but it simply does not matter.
Romelu Lukaku is offside
Photo: Frame from the broadcast.
The same goes for offsides. It is impossible to always calculate where the advantage limit is, so this approach was abandoned in this matter. The main thing is that there is a clear line. And this is not a drawback of the rules, but a plus. Delaney’s offside is just as small as Lukaku’s – the interpretation is the same. Problems begin when the rules are vague. For example, when we don’t understand why a penalty is awarded and what is acceptable. The clearer the boundary line, the less room for manipulation. Yes, you can doubt at what fraction of a second the transfer took place, but now even the chips have been put inside the ball. It is simply not realistic to capture the moment of a pass more accurately.
Short track
Photo: Frame from the broadcast.
Finally, an example from another sport called short track speed skating. There, even 0.001 seconds can decide the fate of a medal. Real millimetres. In terms of timing, short track was forced to introduce cosmic details. And hardly anyone will say that a defeat by a thousandth of a second is wrong. It is offensive, of course, but it is strange to talk about injustice.
And here is an interesting case with the lack of offside of the Spanish team:
Shouldn’t the key goal against Georgia have been counted? This marked the start of Spain’s comeback.
