The Offside Rule Explained For 2022 FIFA World Cup
World Cup soccer is back again, which means one of the most controversial calls in sports has also returned.
The offside rule has caused some of the most frustrating moments ever in football and is the bane of some soccer fans' existence.
Offside is often called at the most inopportune times of the game, and almost every team in the history of soccer has been on the receiving end of an egregious offside call.
Offside whistles often end in disputes because referees are human, which means there is always room for human error.
Referees are even sometimes attacked following games that end in offside controversies.
Over the years, the offside rule has evolved, but for casual fans, it still can be a challenge to fully comprehend.
So, here’s all you need to know about the detailed rules of offside in soccer for the 2022 FIFA World Cup:
Offside in soccer is a rule that stops players from standing near the opposition's goal. A player becomes offside when they are on the opponent's side of the field and the player either doesn't have the ball or two players from the other team are between them and the goal.
According to FIFA rules, a player is penalized for offside “at the time the ball is touched or played by one of his teammates.”