October 26 – Following a number of contentious calls in recent weeks, the English Premier League is reportedly pushing FIFA to implement a ‘linesman’s call’ to deal with the most marginal offside decisions.
Mike Riley, head of Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL), the referees’ body in England, apparently wants feedback from the Dutch FA after their league, the Eredivisie, unilaterally ignored the current rules and brought in a 10cm margin of error this season.
Earlier this year FIFA took over the VAR reins from the International FA Board (IFAB), the game’s law making body, and has steadfastly refused to modify the regulations which many feel are ruining the enjoyment of the game and the concept that “level” should be deemed on-side.
The controversy was re-ignited last week after Liverpool’s stoppage-time winner in the Merseyside derby was ruled out when Sadio Mane’s shoulder was judged offside by a matter of millimetres, prompting Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp to say that marginal decisions were getting “harder and harder to take”.
Any change to the law can only be brought in across the board for next season but a spokesman for the Dutch told the Mail on Sunday newspaper why they had decided to act alone.
“We chose this solution to avoid hassle and discussions to the centimetre,” he said. “We agreed that if the lines touch each other, the difference is minimal and there is no reason for VAR to interfere. The decision made on the pitch remains intact. This works well.”
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