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Learn the Laws For Crying Out Loud!

June 09, 2008 | 21:05

This has nothing to do with the RailHawks but I'm so aghast right now at the lack of knowledge of the Laws of the Game by the soccer commentators on ESPN2 that I have to post this. If it were some silly thought from Dave O'Brien who called the 2006 World Cup after being a life long baseball commentator that would be one thing, but legendary British football commentator Andy Gray and his sidekick Scotsman Derek Rae should have known this instead of going on and on and on during today's Holland v. Italy match about the "bad" refereeing decision.

For those that didn't see the match, Ruud Van Nistlerooy's goal that opened the scoring in the game appeared to be laughably offside. But what really happened is that an Italian defender and their goalkeeper collided at the far post, with the Italian player falling down injured just outside of the end line. Play continued and Van Nistlerooy scored with only the keeper between him and the goal when he received the pass. Everyone on the ESPN2 broadcast lampooned the decision from the linesman but in fact, the AR was spot on. The Italian defender cannot remove himself from play by stepping over the endline, whether intentionally or as the result of a collision.

The USSF Advice to Referees, Section 11.11 clearly states:

“A defender who leaves the field during the course of play and does not immediately return must still be considered in determining where the second to last defender is for the purpose of judging which attackers are in an offside position. Such a defender is considered to be on the touch line or goal line closest to his or her off-field position. A defender who leaves the field with the referee’s permission (and who thus requires the referee’s permission to return) is not included in determining offside position.”

And oh yeah, while I'm calling out commentators...July Foudy??? You were an international soccer player for how many years? How could you sit in the studio and agree with Andy Gray on this? Didn't you learn the Laws during your career?

Special thanks to Mike at On the Pitch for looking up the ATR so I didn't have to do the hard work

Category: News

Comments

1. Gaz 
   June 10, 2008 - 17:56

   That's what happens when you call the game from the ESPN studio's not the stadium itself.

1. Brian 
   June 11, 2008 - 00:20

   I agree with the previous poster. I like Derek Rae a lot. He is the only decent commentator we have over here. While Ruud was definately onsides, not everyone know every law of the game and there is always the issue of interpretation. No matter how much someone has played, coached, etc. The only way to really learn the laws of the game is to ref.

1. Jarrett C. 
   June 11, 2008 - 06:56

   Brian,
   
   Your point is well taken and one I should have made in my original post. I believe that soccer commentators should be required to go through Grade 8 USSF referee training (or the equivalent in their country). The knowledge about th laws that you learn as part of that training course is invaluable.
   
   The very specific situation that occurred in this game was reviewed in my ref training class as well as numerous other "exceptional" situations and how to deal with them.
   
   Any "professional" soccer commentator that wants to do his job to the best of his ability owes it to his/her viewers to go through that ref training class (which is only like 16 hours total time commitment). Other professions have basic training requirements and refresher courses, why shouldn't this be part of a professional commentator's prep work for his job?

1. Mario 
   June 11, 2008 - 12:06

   It's important to note however that the "rules" that you are citing are for the most part the USSF's interpretation of international rules for use in the United States. European soccer isn't bound by these same rule interpretations. The reason UEFA's explanation was so lacking in substance is that they are not bound by the same interpretations as the USSF, and rather allow the referees to make their own interpretations.
   
   I'm not entirely sure why you expect Andy Gray to know what the USSF's take on every rule is. He's announcing UEFA soccer, not MLS.

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