Rangers finally returned to winning ways with a comfortable win over Aberdeen, however, it was made harder than it should have been.
Cyriel Dessers missed his customary sitters before finally opening the scoring, only to be pulled up for being offside.
The groans around a half-full Ibrox have been a familiar sound this season.
The Rangers No.9 got his goal eventually, but he should have put his side in front at the break.
When Dessers’ goal was ruled out, there weren’t many complaints, even though the IFAB laws of the game suggest that Aberdeen got away with one.
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Offside law that explains why Cyriel Dessers’ goal should have stood
What was interesting is that the assistant referee didn’t put his flag up despite Dessers clearly being offside.
The reason being must have been the attempt by the Dons’ Kristers Tobers’ to intercept Connor Barron’s pass that played it into Dessers’ path.
As the IFAB law 11, via The FA, tells us, this should have been enough for the VAR team to confirm that the goal was good:
“A player in an offside position receiving the ball from an opponent who deliberately played* the ball, including by deliberate handball, is not considered to have gained an advantage, unless it was a deliberate save by any opponent.
“*‘Deliberate play’ (excluding deliberate handball) is when a player has control of the ball with the possibility of:
- passing the ball to a team-mate;
- gaining possession of the ball; or
- clearing the ball (e.g. by kicking or heading it)
“If the pass, attempt to gain possession or clearance by the player in control of the ball is inaccurate or unsuccessful, this does not negate the fact that the player ‘deliberately played’ the ball.
“The following criteria should be used, as appropriate, as indicators that a player was in control of the ball and, as a result, can be considered to have ‘deliberately played’ the ball:
- The ball travelled from distance and the player had a clear view of it
- The ball was not moving quickly
- The direction of the ball was not unexpected
- The player had time to coordinate their body movement, i.e. it was not a case of instinctive stretching or jumping, or a movement that achieved limited
contact/control
- A ball moving on the ground is easier to play than a ball in the air
“A ‘save’ is when a player stops, or attempts to stop, a ball which is going into or very close to the goal with any part of the body except the hands/arms (unless the goalkeeper within the penalty area).”
Why Aberdeen got away with one at Ibrox
James McFadden asked on Sky Sports’ commentary if it was a “controlled action”, but he has misinterpreted the law.
Tobers “deliberately played” the ball but made a mess of it because he tried to anticipate where it was going.
It travelled a long way, along the ground, and was going straight for him, he had time to “coordinate his body”.
Tobers did stretch for the ball, however, it wasn’t because the ball moved or changed direction, it was because of his own actions.
Rangers were unlucky, although Dessers should never have been offside in the first place. The story of the season.
