Football history was made on Friday, August 16, 2024, as the first goal under the new “clear offside” rule was officially awarded. The landmark moment occurred during the opening match of the 2024-2025 Saudi Roshn League season between Al-Hilal and Al-Orobah at the Kingdom Arena.
The decisive action unfolded in the 33rd minute. Al-Hilal’s Serbian striker, Aleksandar Mitrović, found the back of the net, but the assistant referee’s flag was immediately raised for offside. Following the standard protocol, the video assistant referee (VAR) initiated a review of the incident.
After examining the footage, the VAR officials applied the newly implemented “clear offside” guideline. The review determined that Mitrović was in an offside position. However, crucially, it was judged that Al-Orobah defender Hussain Al-Qahtani had made a deliberate and controlled play on the ball before it reached the striker.
According to the updated rule, an attacking player in an offside position receiving the ball from an opponent who deliberately plays it is not penalized. Therefore, the initial offside call was overturned. The goal was given, putting Al-Hilal 1-0 ahead on their way to a 3-0 victory.
This moment represents the first practical application of the rule since the International Football Association Board (IFAB) announced its latest amendments to the offside law in March 2024. The change is designed to encourage more fluid attacking play by rewarding situations where defenders make a conscious action to intercept or control the ball, even if it subsequently goes to an opponent in an offside position.
The successful implementation in a competitive league match marks a significant step in the evolution of the game’s laws and their interaction with technology.
