Referee

[LBA_Blade]

Yes. As is entirely possible if that was where the offence took place

Exactly this, can’t blame the referee for that but it doesn’t make his job any easier when the Laws of the game are tweaked with so often and for the fan it makes it difficult in those split seconds as to whether he got it right, also doesn’t help that the last time a lot of fans around me read a Laws of the game if they have was probably the early 2000s or by referencing MOTD. On paper it was a big game last seasons 3rd place Championship side vs a relegated Premier League club. I didn’t have a problem and thought he was one of the better officials we have had this season

 

[brettblade]

I think the point most people were making is that you can’t be offside in your own half, hence the offence could not have took place from where the free kick was taken.

You can’t be in an offside position in your own half, but you can commit an offside offence anywhere on the field. So, if you start from an offside position in the opponent’s half and move back into your own half to play the ball, the indirect free kick will be in your own half. It’s a rare occurrence but correctly applied this evening.

 

[SharpAsAblade]

He was alright as far as refs go. The standard of refs is shocking so based on that standard he had quite a good game

 

[1889]

You can’t be in an offside position in your own half, but you can commit an offside offence anywhere on the field. So, if you start from an offside position in the opponent’s half and move back into your own half to play the ball, the indirect free kick will be in your own half. It’s a rare occurrence but correctly applied this evening.

So in layman’s terms, the current interpretation of offside is not adjudged to be when the ball is played forward by a teammate, but when that player stood in an offside position, actually touches the ball? So a player can be in an offside position, in the opponents half, but then tracks back into his own half and then plays the ball, at which point the offence is ‘complete’ and the free kick is awarded from that position?

Is that what you mean?

 

[ThatJa]

I thought he was fairly new to the our level which he is in a breakthrough season last season but interesting he played professionally for 4 years in Spain, as well as coming through 'Boro's academy. I can't recall him too much, but be interesting to see if playing experience helps or not
https://www.efl.com/match-officials/farai-hallam/

EDIT - Did Ipswich away!

Does this mean he would never be able to ref a game involving Boro?

EDIT: Checked this and no. He's reffed Boro twice this season.

Surely this is a conflict of interest?

 

[LBA_Blade]

Does this mean he would never be able to ref a game involving Boro?

I would guess so, although not 100% there can’t be many former pros that are active in the game at the moment. Even if it was a short career. I don’t know if it gives you an advantage or not he was a defender so from that point of view he is probably more switched on to positioning etc

 

[ThatJa]

I would guess so, although not 100% there can’t be many former pros that are active in the game at the moment. Even if it was a short career. I don’t know if it gives you an advantage or not he was a defender so from that point of view he is probably more switched on to positioning etc

He's reffed 3 Boro games this season, I checked after posting!

 

[brettblade]

So in layman’s terms, the current interpretation of offside is not adjudged to be when the ball is played forward by a teammate, but when that player stood in an offside position, actually touches the ball? So a player can be in an offside position, in the opponents half, but then tracks back into his own half and then plays the ball, at which point the offence is ‘complete’ and the free kick is awarded from that position?

Is that what you mean?

Correct - an offside offence occurs when the player gains possession (plays the ball), interferes with an opponent (for example by challenging for the ball), or gains an advantage. The last one is usually something like being offside when a shot is taken by another player, and then receiving the ball after the GK makes a save.

 

[LBA_Blade]

He's reffed 3 Boro games this season, I checked after posting!

Change that to I guess not then! Unless they aren’t bothered as he is from Stevenage and was an academy player at Boro before moving to Spain

 

[Trigger Blade]

Strange physique for a fella too .

We had a discussion along those lines, but assumed it was more to do with refs wearing skintight clothing these days. I’m surprised they’ve got room in the pockets for cards and pencils.

 

[Ned the Donkey]

Posted in another thread, but including it here in case it's relevant:

Law 11 - Offside

IFAB Laws of the Game

www.thefa.com

 

[jt64]

He was alright as far as refs go. The standard of refs is shocking so based on that standard he had quite a good game

I'd honestly challenge anyone to watch a random Championship game and say how the ref did. People saying "refs are shocking" are 99% of the time doing so on the basis of only ever watching their own team, whereby every 50/50 is a stonewall free kick for United, and any free kick given against United is a crime against humanity