the.com/onside

the only rule in soccer that turns a stadium of adults into simultaneous geometry professors.

means a player is onside if, when the ball is played to them, at least two opponents (usually the goalkeeper and one defender) are level with or closer to their own goal line than they are.

from borrowed from rugby football's offside concept in the 1800s, when english public schools codified rules against players lurking near the opponent's goal for a cheap passsoccer kept the spirit, sharpened the geometry.

for instance

messi 2022 final assistlionel messi's pass to di maria ruled onside by millimeters

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