Today, My friend and i were arguing,we wanted to identify with the greatest player in soccer history. We called a few names and then i made mention of Pèlè,what he said next shocked me... He said "Pèlè played soccer when there was no offside rule!"

Now, don't get me wrong this friend of mine is someone who is well grounded in soccer history,someone you can turn to for answers to your questions on soccer when all hope is almost lost. I was shocked because of the confidence in which this friend made his ignorant claim.

Then i decided to make a post about the above topic to enlighten minds and maybe see reason for his(my friend's) position on the matter. If youre a fan of soccer or you just want to know more about the offside rule, this post is for you, keep scrolling to find out!

What is offside? >> The Offside Rule and Offside Trap in Football(Soccer) It is not an offence in itself to be in an offside position. A player is in an offside position if: he is nearer to his opponents' goal line than both the ball and the second last opponent.

The term off side is almost as old as soccer itself. Even during the early years of soccer, the problem with players “goal hanging” was evident. Players would stand around the goal waiting for the right opportunity. In order to prevent this, the offside rule was born. Let’s take a look at the history of the offside rule.

The Offside Rule – 1863

The offside rule originated in 1863. A player was considered offside unless three players of the opposing side are in front of him (includes goalkeeper). So in the above diagram, the player with the ball is considered offside because only two players are in front of him.

The Offside Rule – 1925

The offside rule was changed in 1925. A player was considered offside unless two players of the opposing team are in front of him (includes goalkeeper). So in the above diagram, the player with the ball is NOT considered offside because two players are in front of him.

The Offside Rule – 1990

The offside rule was changed again in 1990. A player is onside if he is level with the second-to-last player of the opposing team (includes goalkeeper). So in the above diagram, the player with the ball is NOT considered offside because he is level with the second-to-last player.

This is the most recent rule, even though the rule has changed a couple times, many still have issues with the rule. Some say making an offside call is impossible and feel that FIFA should change the rule again. Only time will tell!

You can leave your opinions below on this question " Which soccer ruke do you think needs to be changed for the betterment of the sport?"

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