Offside Law

The offside law in soccer prevents players from gaining an unfair advantage by positioning themselves too close to the opponent's goal when the ball is played. A player is offside if, at the moment their teammate passes the ball, they are nearer to the opponent’s goal line than both the ball and the second-last defender, and are involved in active play. However, they are not offside if they are level with the second-last defender or behind the ball. The rule aims to promote fair play, ensuring players contribute to the game’s flow rather than simply waiting near the goal for easy scoring chances.