Why was the first goal in the Holland/Italy game not offsides?
The first goal was NOT offside. Here are the laws that say so. Section 11.11 of FIFA’s Advice to Referees Section 11.4.1 of Laws of the Game, FIFA Refereeing Code In section 11.11 (Defender legally off field of play) of FIFA’s “advice to referees,” it clearly states that “A defender who leaves the field during the course of play and does not immediately return MUST STILL BE CONSIDERED in determining where the second to last defender is for the purpose of judging which attackers are in an offside position. Such a defender is considered to be on the touch line or goal line closest to his off-field position. A defender who leaves the field with the referee’s permission (and who thus requires the referee’s permission to return) is not included in determining offside position.” This answer is correct, and the rest of the world will catch up eventually. Which, of course, explains why the Italians lined up without much of a protest to restart the game after the Dutch goal. Not to mention that
