Spains goal

[Stanley]

Exactly but I guess it's better we got knocked out like that then to draw 0-0 and get eliminated by some new crazy UEFA rules about which games actually count. Anyway I'm now used to these shitty decisions thanks to QPR and the shitty refs in the English game.

So can we therefore agree that the linesman should have flagged for offside at the point Fabregas passed to Iniesta due to Navas being in an offside position and interfering with play?.... Or have they changed the rules yet again?

[winalotto]

Its all this second phase nonsense , first phase he was off but not involved (i know) second phase he was on side as the ball was played to him, he was definitely behind the ball, so no forward pass , so cant be offside.

[Mattyqpr]

It's not hard to understand really is it? As winalotto says it's all about phases now.

Phase 1: Fabregas passes to Iniesta
Phase 2: Iniesta passes to Navas
Phase 3: Navas scores

The ball passed from Fabregas was fine because Iniesta was level with a defender, the ball from Iniesta to Navas is fine because Navas was behind Iniesta.

Where this nonsense some of you are talking about with a ball being played forwards or backwards has come from i don't know! Navas was behind Iniesta, simple.

The rule regarding two outfield players only comes into the equation when the goalkeeper isn't goal side of the ball.

[Bluehoop]

Its all this second phase nonsense , first phase he was off but not involved (i know) second phase he was on side as the ball was played to him, he was definitely behind the ball, so no forward pass , so cant be offside.

This sums the whole thing up in plain English. 10 out of 10, go to the top of the class

[MattyRangers]

It's not hard to understand really is it? As winalotto says it's all about phases now.

Phase 1: Fabregas passes to Iniesta
Phase 2: Iniesta passes to Navas
Phase 3: Navas scores

The ball passed from Fabregas was fine because Iniesta was level with a defender, the ball from Iniesta to Navas is fine because Navas was behind Iniesta.

Where this nonsense some of you are talking about with a ball being played forwards or backwards has come from i don't know! Navas was behind Iniesta, simple.

The rule regarding two outfield players only comes into the equation when the goalkeeper isn't goal side of the ball.

we dont all read a referees handbook before bed.

[Mattyqpr]

we dont all read a referees handbook before bed.

Knowing the offside rule doesn't need the referees handbook, just football knowledge and a brain.

[MattyRangers]

Knowing the offside rule doesn't need the referees handbook, just football knowledge and a brain.

Seeing as the majority on here dont seem to know the offisde rule too clearly then I guess none of us have a brain or any football knowledge eh

[yugohoop]

Knowing the offside rule doesn't need the referees handbook, just football knowledge and a brain.

Bet we have at least 10 offside decisions given against us next season where the phases you outline are seen differently. Why have phases in the first place? Why not just say that a player is onside untill he touches the ball in an offside position? Essentially that's what you are saying.

[Del]

All we need to know is the new offside system has loads of flaws and was devised by a crazy fool within FIFA.

The explanation above is spot on, Iniesta was on for Fabs pass (Ph 1) and Navas onside for Iniesta's pass (ph 2). It doesn't make it right to the purist, but it was onside. for me when there is almost no time between these "Phases" and the final receiving player gained an advantage for being offiside initially, there should be a flag, but they would need to change the rules again.

For him to "not be interfering with play" about 2 seconds before scoring the winning goal is a mockery and highlights exactly what is wrong with the rules now.

Also, why are so many people mentioning passing forward...? that's irrelevant. It 's about player positioning not the direction of any pass.

If the ball is played forward to you, you must have 2 of the oposing side level or between you and their goal, if the ball is played back to you it doesn't matter.

Anyway, at least nobody will ever be offside from a Scott Parker pass... as he always goes backwards or sideways!

[silvercue]

The phases of play do not count in this scenario as Navas was offside and intererring with play as the goalie had to choose to cover the man receiveing ball or the threat of Navas which means it was all the same phase of play.

The goal should have been ruled offside as Navas was offside when Fabregas passed the ball - there is nothing wrong with the pass to Navas.

As a simple example of what is meant by phases of play, imagine a player in an offside position on the left wing. The ball however is passed to a team-mate on the right wing who is on-side. The player on the left wing cannot be given offside because he is not in active play. If he then receives the ball after he can be deemed active and that is second phase. As Navas was involved in the active play with Iniesta and Fabregas - it was all the first phase off play and the goal should have been ruled out.

[Mattyqpr]

Bet we have at least 10 offside decisions given against us next season where the phases you outline are seen differently. Why have phases in the first place? Why not just say that a player is onside untill he touches the ball in an offside position? Essentially that's what you are saying.

I'm not saying nothing, they're not my rules are they! I'm simply outlining the rules of the game, whether people agree with them or not.

[Mattyqpr]

Seeing as the majority on here dont seem to know the offisde rule too clearly then I guess none of us have a brain or any football knowledge eh

Correct.

[Del]

The phases of play do not count in this scenario as Navas was offside and intererring with play as the goalie had to choose to cover the man receiveing ball or the threat of Navas which means it was all the same phase of play.

The goal should have been ruled offside as Navas was offside when Fabregas passed the ball - there is nothing wrong with the pass to Navas.

As a simple example of what is meant by phases of play, imagine a player in an offside position on the left wing. The ball however is passed to a team-mate on the right wing who is on-side. The player on the left wing cannot be given offside because he is not in active play. If he then receives the ball after he can be deemed active and that is second phase. As Navas was involved in the active play with Iniesta and Fabregas - it was all the first phase off play and the goal should have been ruled out.

Shame the officials don't work to that logic. It's been obvious for years they class a phase as a person receiving the ball from a pass, hence this being a 2 phase scenario. It is laughable, but clearly their thinking otherwise they would've flagged because Navas wasn't even close to being onside when Fabregas played the ball to Iniesta.

[Mattyqpr]

The phases of play do not count in this scenario as Navas was offside and intererring with play as the goalie had to choose to cover the man receiveing ball or the threat of Navas which means it was all the same phase of play.

The goal should have been ruled offside as Navas was offside when Fabregas passed the ball - there is nothing wrong with the pass to Navas.

As a simple example of what is meant by phases of play, imagine a player in an offside position on the left wing. The ball however is passed to a team-mate on the right wing who is on-side. The player on the left wing cannot be given offside because he is not in active play. If he then receives the ball after he can be deemed active and that is second phase. As Navas was involved in the active play with Iniesta and Fabregas - it was all the first phase off play and the goal should have been ruled out.

Navas was offside in phase 1 for a matter of milliseconds, the ball was played in the opposite direction to which Navas was, therefore not interfering with play. As soon as Iniesta received the ball, Navas was on side therefore you saying the goalkeeper had to choose has nothing to do with the argument because Navas was on side.

I don't agree with the offside rule but they're the rules and it was a legitimate goal.

[yugohoop]

Navas was offside in phase 1 for a matter of milliseconds, the ball was played in the opposite direction to which Navas was, therefore not interfering with play. As soon as Iniesta received the ball, Navas was on side therefore you saying the goalkeeper had to choose has nothing to do with the argument because Navas was on side.

I don't agree with the offside rule but they're the rules and it was a legitimate goal.

You can't have serval phases for 1 move, and that was one move. I'd agree if there was a touch from a Croat player but the way you have broken it up into several phases is a ******** set of rules.