That year, football’s governing body, IFAB, adjusted the rule to favor attackers by allowing a player to remain onside if they were aligned with the second-last defender.
Before that change, which had been in place since 1925, a player was considered offside unless there were two opponents—typically including the goalkeeper—between them and the goal.
The concept of offside dates back to 1863, when the Football Association first codified it in the game’s laws. The decision was made after it became clear that attackers were exploiting a loophole to gain unfair advantages.
In those early days, players could simply linger on the opposition’s goal line, waiting for a pass to slot into an unguarded net—similar to tactics you might see in schoolyard football.
Although recent tweaks have been introduced, particularly around VAR and how offside incidents are assessed, the fundamental idea has remained intact for over three decades.
Interestingly, the term “offside” has military roots, where it was used to describe soldiers caught beyond enemy lines.
This military analogy made its way into football to prevent attackers from breaking away too early and gaining an unchallenged path to goal.
There is, however, one notable exception to the rule.
If an attacking player is still within their own half when the ball is played, they are considered onside—even if no defenders are ahead of them.
This is because the sheer distance to goal is deemed enough to eliminate any unfair advantage, ensuring the spirit of the game stays intact.
