Summit over offside law
A summit of top officials will meet tomorrow to discuss the latest interpretation of the offside rule that has been dubbed confusing.
Representatives of the Premier League, the Football League and the Football Association are trying to clarify the situation following a FIFA change.
Referees' chief Keith Hackett, who heads the Professional Game Match Officials Board, said: 'We were all brought up on the principle of 'if in doubt, give the offside'. FIFA deemed not enough goals were being scored so they are now saying the attackers get the benefit. If the assistant referee is in any doubt about the decision he does not flag. The instructions they are receiving are 'wait, wait, wait and see'.
'We heard spectators four months ago moaning about the flag being delayed but the assistant ref has to delay still further now to make the judgement 'Is there interference, is the player active?'.
'The plea to spectators is 'You have got to be patient.''
