A controversial incident in the recent Chelsea-Arsenal fixture sparked a fierce argument online. Supporters and commentators are abuzz arguing the nuances of offside interpretation. Enzo Fernandez, perhaps the best player on the pitch for Chelsea, was caught offside in a moment of great danger. That was the case when Trevoh Chalobah headed the ball on. This was the same deal for Chelsea as they tried to jam a deserved goal down the throat of their London rivals.
Enzo Fernandez’s positioning has raised some eyebrows. We could tell that he was just about ahead of Cristhian Mosquera’s sleeve exactly at the time of the headered off. Although Fernandez did not touch the ball, his presence on the field raises questions about the three criteria for offside. These three criteria all center on preventing an opponent from playing the ball. They even incorporate contesting the opponent for a ball or executing an overt action that impedes the opponent from playing.
The Laws of the Game clarify that “the hands and arms of all players, including the goalkeepers, are not considered” when determining offside positions. Referees judge a player’s fate by the length of their sleeves and not their palms. In Fernandez’s case, this stipulation indicates that his offside position was judged in relation to Mosquera’s sleeve, rather than his arms.
Fernandez’s actions seemingly impacted Mosquera’s ability to clear the ball off the line, potentially altering the game’s outcome. This case is similar to a previous one involving Virgil van Dijk. His disallowed Liverpool goal vs. Manchester City was disallowed due to Andy Robertson’s offside position, impacting the play even though he never played a ball. These types of examples trigger cries of offside inconsistency across the Premier League.
Or in an alternate universe, Nottingham Forest just knocked Liverpool out of the League Cup. This was all allowed to happen even with Dan Ndoye in an offside position. Officials decided that Ndoye was not interfering with Alisson’s line of sight. This one decision highlights the absurdity of how radically officiating can vary based on the setting.
As conversations continue around this tragic incident, thousands of observers are asking how officiating standards can be so inconsistent. Fernandez’s positioning could prove to be the key to unlock Chelsea’s full potential. It will have an impact on the interpretation of future offside calls during games.
“The hands and arms of all players, including the goalkeepers, are not considered” – Laws of the Game
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