A day when the off side rule got redefined

Today was a day where there were two high profile games. The first one was one of the oldest and fiercest derbies, Liverpool vs Everton. It always has the makings of an intense, hardly fought contest. With Everton enjoying a purple spell, it was expected to be even better. This derby enjoys the record of most red cards awarded, which personifies the fierceness and intensity of the contest.

The second one was an even better contest, with Chelsea taking on Manchester United. It has always been a mouthwatering encounter, with highest quality of football on display. Such is the stature and reputation of the games that one expected to talk about the quality of football in the post match show by the pundits, but the biggest talking point of the day was undoubtedly the two off side howlers by the linesmen.

It is saddening and a disgrace to football to see such games being decided by the referees and not by the players on the field.

Just when the Kop started to celebrate their victory over the blue half of Merseyside after Suarez was at the end of a Coates header and thumped it into the back of the net, only then did they realize that the linesman had his flag raised. The Kop went mad and rightly so, no replays were even needed. For anyone in doubt, the replays were enough. Suarez was nowhere even close to being offside, it wasn’t even marginal. It was a dismal show by the linesman and the referee and Liverpool lost crucial points, which may prove to be pivotal at the end of the season, such is the competition in the league.

Have a look:

In the second game between the Blues and the Red Devils, Red Devils went ahead 2-0, only to see a fantastic turnaround by Chelsea, showcasing quality football. It was 2-2 then, before the referee went mad. The referee gave marching orders to first Ivanovic for minimal contact on an onrushing Ashley Young, who was clear in goal; this was still debatable, but what followed, left the footballing world and fans flabbergasted.

First, Torres was shown his second yellow for a dive, which never was and we could see Evans worried after the tackle. The decision left Chelsea with 9 men. They still put in their best and tried competing, but what can you do when it’s the referees who dictate the game. It was a clear howler to not adjudge Hernandez off side. One needs to be behind two players from the opposition before the pass is played to him and Hernandez didn’t have anyone behind him. It was nothing but a howler. How could you get such a clear one wrong?

As someone rightly put it- Based on the first 20 minutes of the match Man Utd deserved the win. For the next 40 minutes, Chelsea deserved the win. But for the last 30 minutes, the ref deserves _____ . Fill in the blank!

These two decisions reiterate the need for FIFA to look into the matter and bring technology to even the games a little. You cannot have such substandard refereeing in such big games. In the short term sense, it may be a game, but in the broader outlook, it might decide the league. With stakes such high, there is a need for consistency and accuracy.

The two talked about decisions left you wondering whether the rules might have been flexed and you can just say, I was alive the day when the off side rule was redefined.