http://www.euro2008.uefa.com/news/kind=1/newsid=711341.html " If we did not have this interpretation of the player being off the pitch, then what could happen is that the defending team could use the tactic of stepping off the pitch deliberately to play players offside, and that clearly is unacceptable.
The most simple and practical interpretation of the law in this instance is the one that is adopted by referees throughout the world – that is that unless you have permission from the referee to be off the pitch, you are deemed to be on it and deemed to be part of the game.
That is why the Italian defender, even though his momentum had taken him off the pitch, was still deemed to be part of the game, and therefore the attacking player put the ball into the net, and it was a valid goal. The law in this place was applied absolutely correctly."
Nice one PBS. Players go off the field all the time and re-enter - the law has to be applied with common sense. It's usually there for injuries and water breaks etc but challenges that take player(s) off the field of play need not be considered under the catuionable offences. Panucci collided with Buffon and was off the field for a few seconds before trying to come back on - therefore remaining active and as is stated above stops defences having players caught offside by stepping off the pitch. As a result Holland received an amazing advantage (even RVN thought he was offside) so a very lucky goal for them and bad, bad luck for Italy. Got to say fantastic decision by the assistant and one in the eye for the BBC pundits who apparently slaughtered the decision.
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However his head was at least 4 yards off.
" If we did not have this interpretation of the player being off the pitch, then what could happen is that the defending team could use the tactic of stepping off the pitch deliberately to play players offside, and that clearly is unacceptable.
The most simple and practical interpretation of the law in this instance is the one that is adopted by referees throughout the world – that is that unless you have permission from the referee to be off the pitch, you are deemed to be on it and deemed to be part of the game.
That is why the Italian defender, even though his momentum had taken him off the pitch, was still deemed to be part of the game, and therefore the attacking player put the ball into the net, and it was a valid goal. The law in this place was applied absolutely correctly."
I actually got something right.