Swedish club Torns IF have sparked debate after devising a fascinating plan to beat the offside trap.
Torns IF, who compete in the Swedish third tier, are a modest club from Stangby, which has an estimated population of just 2,000 people. However, their creative interpretation of the offside law has seen them go viral on social media.
The second section of Law 11 - which classifies offside - reads: "A player is in an offside position at the moment the ball is played or touched by a team-mate is only penalised on becoming involved in active play by the first point of contact of the 'play' or 'touch' of the ball should be used."
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Torns posted an amusing video on YouTube demonstrating a 'loophole' within the rule in which head coach Richard Ringhov argues that an offside is called at the first point of contact, rather than when the ball is released to a team-mate.
You can watch the video below.
In a thread subsequently posted online, Torns revealed that they had since contacted the International Football Association Board (IFAB), football’s global rule-making body, to ask for clarification over whether their innovation was “in accordance with the rules”.
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The club then confirmed IFAB's response to their query. “This is amusing and interesting! In terms of the ‘spirit’ of the Law this is obviously offside and, in terms of the Law itself, the ‘balancing’ of the ball on the foot is a different ‘play’ from the movement which gives the ball momentum to move,” their reply read.
When quizzed on when the movement might begin and end in the case of a scooped pass, IFAB admitted they may need to review their wording of Law 11 in light of Torns' findings.
Only time will tell if Torns have found a genuine loophole within the offside law, but they have certainly got people talking.
Topics: Football, Premier League
Joe Adams