Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger acknowledges that the offside rule has become difficult to interpret.
But Frenchman gives English officials a pat on the back
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger acknowledges that the offside rule has become difficult to interpret but he thinks that English match officials are coping well.
Fifa's guidelines on the rules again came under the spotlight in midweek when the Gunners benefitted in their comfortable Carling Cup win over Newcastle.
A grey area was exposed when Theo Walcott was allowed to go on and score despite Nicklas Bendtner appearing to come from an offside position and block Mike Williamson.
Wenger has admitted that the offside rule is difficult to understand, however, he thinks that officials in England are doing their best to make the correct decisions.
"It was easier for the referee certainly, but I must say to their credit the linesmen have improved tremendously in England to judge the offside," said the Arsenal manager.
Difficult
"I see many games in Europe and I think they get it right in England more than anywhere else."
Wenger continued: "It is very difficult to interpret because you are offside if one part of the body you can score with is offside and that's not always very easy to see.
"Sometimes it is the second part of the action, when the guy can take part of his initial offside position away and that looks a little unjust.
"The rule is you judge the situation when the ball is played so that means phase two is again phase one because you judge again when the ball is played - so phase two does basically not exist.
"That is why sometimes you can feel that a guy takes advantage of his offside position.
"The only thing sometimes I am not happy with is that if a guy who is central is 10 yards offside and he scores a goal from a first touch after a cross from the wing, you should maybe consider that is a bit unfair."
