The changes to the offside rule explained...

Referee Steven McLean explains how the offside rule will be different next season Referee Steven McLean explains how the offside rule will be different next season

With the new season comes another change to the offside rule. We explain what the tweaks are with the help of a referee...

So what is the difference this season to the previous campaign? Well essentially, if a player has a shot at goal and a team-mate in an offside position makes a play for the ball – even if they do not touch it – the goal will now be disallowed.

Scottish Football Association referee Steven McLean explains it all for us here by talking through the exact amendments to the old rule...

Will the new rule be confusing for supporters?

“No, it’s a simple change really to interfering with an opponent."

Can you give a brief explanation of the change in the law?

“When a player makes an obvious action which clearly impacts on his opponent’s ability to play the ball, then he will be penalised as offside.”

Next season a player will be given offside if they make a play for the ball, even if they do not touch it

Are you able to give an example of a goal that would have been disallowed last season but will now stand?

“Yes, there was a situation last season in the Scottish Cup I believe – St Johnstone versus Ross County – John Beaton was the referee and the attacker was in an offside position and made an obvious action which impacted on the goalkeeper’s ability to save the ball.

“That was allowed as a goal last year – correctly – but this year it will be penalised as offside.”

Stevie May's goal for St Johnstone against Hearts wouldn’t have stood under the new offside rules Stevie May's goal for St Johnstone against Hearts wouldn’t have stood under the new offside rules

How do you see these changes affecting the game going forward?

"Our job will never be easy, by any matter of means, but certainly there will be more offside situations, so hopefully this will give us more situations which will be in line of the expectations of the players, so it will be more consistent."

So this tweak to the offside rule should be good for football?

“This is better for us, better for football, better for the supporters. It seems to be a sensible move.”

So all in all, there should be less confusion in the future for players, managers and fans alike when it comes to that thorny issue of whether a player is, or is not, interfering with play…