Simplify the offside rule rather than scrap it, says Ray Parlour
Thursday 19 January 2017 12:08, UK
Ray Parlour thinks the offside rule should be simplified rather than disposed of after Marco van Basten suggested scrapping it altogether.
Former Dutch international forward Van Basten, now FIFA's technical director, has floated a radical blueprint aimed at improving football and making it more exciting.
If it was applied, it would see a number of significant changes to the game including the introduction of orange cards which would result in 10-minute spells in a sin-bin.
Top of Van Basten's list, however, is the abolishment of the offside rule - but former Arsenal midfielder Parlour thinks it is a bad idea.
He told Premier League Daily: "You would just stand next to the keeper, wouldn't you? If you were a striker, you'd just stand next to him.
"We had it a lot at Arsenal where people would go to Highbury and get everyone behind the ball. You've got to find a way to break it down. That's what football's all about.
"It's tactical and about how get the best to get a result. I'm sure lots of managers went to different grounds and said: 'Right, let's try to defend well and get a 0-0 draw.'
"As a team, you have to try to break that down and get the opening goal and make them change their system to try to chase a goal.
"The offside rule at the moment is a little bit difficult. I want to see a rule where if you're offside, you're offside - simple as that - whether you're interfering with play or not.
"I think it would be a lot easier for linesmen to pick up on that. If you're not interfering with play and someone's running from deep, it can get a little bit confusing for some linesmen."
Speaking more generally, Parlour added: "I love football as it is. I watch every single game when I'm indoors and whether I'm supporting a team or not, I still enjoy the competition.
"I wouldn't change anything. You might be able to help with technology and certain decisions but why would you want to change it?
"Is he just justifying his job? Marco van Basten was a brilliant player but I think he's lost the plot a bit with some of the ideas he's coming up with at the moment.
"Look, I'm up for new ideas but if it's not broke, why do you have to fix it? Goal-line technology has been brilliant for the game and maybe helping referees a bit more is the next step.
"We want to help them make the right decisions as much as they can so maybe that's the next thing instead of no offsides, sin-bins, this, that and whatever."
