Is it possible for a female to comprehend the offside law?

[R1Geezer]

http://news.bbc.co.uk.../football/9371642.stm
Given the recent gaff by Andy Gray and co regarding femail lineswomen. Would any of the ladies on here care to explain the offside law?

[milly143]

Thanks Sqad. Not that I ever notice when it actually happens, but then that's why I'm not a lineswoman.

[rowanwitch]

if Fabregas doesn't play the ball and makes it clear he is not involved in play(turning away is often enough) so the pass is not completed another player can pick up the pass; and being Arsenal there probably would be someone following up, Fabregas might not be classed as offside... depends on the ref and whether it is a home or away game... good example though I'm just a cynic

[Backdrifter]

The statement by the Sky MD is hysterically over the top. To read it, you'd think Gray and Keys had described fantasy sexual acts with her. At worst, they were being a bit tediously laddish.

If we're talking about errors of judgement on Sky, I can think of several unedifying displays by Kay Burley that are far worse than the off-screen ramblings of Gray and Keys

[Sqad]

rowan

<<<I'm just a cynic<<

and a clever clogs ;-)

[jd_1984]

To be fair to the lines "Person" (now the correct PC term) in the Liverpool game in question, she made a great call under pressure from the home team and home fans. The call resulted in the player being on side and created the first goal, the replay confirmed he was on side by about half a foot.
It is unfair, and I say if they are qualified and competent, whats the problem? Its the same as when you fly and the pilot is female, when she makes her pre-flight announcement there is always a groan from some blokes as if "sh*t we are going to die".
The question on the "Wright Stuff" this morning was are we to take sexism by broadcasters as seriously as we take racism (relating to Carol Thatchers Gollywog comment that saw her sacked)? Difference was Andy Gray apologised, Thatcher stood firm and didnt.

[anotheoldgit]

I agree with Old_Geezer

/// Who cares if some opposing player 'goal hangs' ? Kick 'im in the nuts and he'll soon move out. ///

Rooney does it all the time, and for the second part "it couldn't happen to a nicer guy"????????

[chelle7272]

Usually the arguments are about whether or not a player is considered to be 'active' at the time of being offside, which can be subjective.
It's not an offence just to be offside in itself.

[Poor-Alfie]

I think the ladies missed an opportunity here. They should have asked to OP to explain it. My money would have been on him not being able to do it.
It is a complicated thing to get down on paper, especially since the ' not interfering' nonsense was introduced.

The lady official made an excellent decision during the game, that I initially thought was offside.

[rowanwitch]

Active.....on that basis there are a few players who couldn't manage to be offside if they were standing on the goaline....berbatov used to be one of them but he moves about a lot more now

[redman41]

Sian Massey gave a flawless display as Assistant Referee at the Wolves v Liverpool match on Saturday. Even Alan Smith who was covering the Match for Sky TV thought she had got the decision wrong for Liverpool's first Goal, but admitted afterwards she was spot on. Great to see Women been given the chance to officiate at major Football matches.

[andy-hughes]

I - as a man - have no interest at all in the offside rule, and although i know vaguley what it means, i could not confirm my knowledge with any certainty.

My wife, youngest daughter, and mother-in-law - all season ticket holders for the mighty Stoke City can explain the rule with lucidity - because it is of interest to them.

The fact is - any rule of any game is only of interest to people who follow that game - and of course the officials, who must know and apply the rule regardless of gender.

Messrs. Gray and Keys were busy being 'laddish' off-air, and no doubt such nonsense is spouted all the time, supposedly in private. Witness Ron Atkinson's career-obliterating observation about the mental capcity / ethnicity of a player which was picked up, although off-air.

As it turns out, the maligned lady not only understands the law, she applied it as required - and Messrs. Keys and Gray should apologise to her - and to Karen Brady who was another innocent reecipient of their 'wit and wisdom'. Given ms. Brady's position within the football fraternity, and her known intolerance for such shenanigins, that would be better delivered sooner rather than later - a visit from her to the Sky studios would not end well for the 'gentlemen' concerned!

[youngmafbog]

AH - you boring g*t.

[sp1814]

Offside Rule Explained As An Analogy In A Shoe Shop:

So, you’re in a shoe shop, second in the queue for the same till. Behind the shop assistant on the till is a pair of shoes that you have seen and you must have them. 

The female shopper in front of you has seen them and is also eyeing them up with desire. Both of you have forgotten your purses. It would be rude to push in front of the woman in front of you if you had no money to pay for the shoes, wouldn’t it now. 

The shop assistant stays at the till. Your friend is trying another pair of shoes on at the back of the shop and sees your dilemma. She prepares to throw her purse to you. If she does, you can catch the purse and walk round the other shopper and buy the shoes. 

At a pinch, she could throw the purse ahead of the other shopper, and while the purse is in the air, you could nip round the other shopper, catch the purse and buy the shoes. 

ALWAYS remember that until the purse has been thrown it would be just plain wrong of you to be ahead of the other shopper, considering she was there first.

[jd_1984]

AH - agree with some of that, but the "Mighty" Stoke city?

[joggerjayne]

I think a female linesman would still be called a linesman.

The term "linesman" refers to the function ... not to the gender of the person performing the function.

In the same way that a female Chairman is still the "Chairman" ...

(** shudders at the thought of "Chair" or "Chairperson" **)

[Poor-Alfie]

a visit from her to the Sky studios would not end well for the 'gentlemen' concerned!


I don't understand that, What makes you say that andy hughes?

[sp1814]

Joggerjayne

Interesting point you raised there...you could argue that chairman is unisex, but if thats the case, how comes policeman isn't? (We had a similar discussion at the pub after work on Friday).

[chelle7272]

Funny sp, i had the same conversation with my son over the weekend

[jd_1984]

JJ - in my experience a female chairman often gets refered to as "Lady Chairman" so still an emphasis on gender. I have read that the Linesman job will be called Lines-person soon enough and that we will see more females in the coming seasons.

[Backdrifter]

Always amusing to see people getting tied in knots about Chairman/woman/person

Where I work it's just 'Chair'

As the role in question is now called Assistant Referee, well, then she's an Assistant Referee.