Why refs wait to hold up the flag for offsides soccer
Assistant referees delay raising the flag for offsides soccer so play can finish before a call is made. In the VAR era, waiting protects a legitimate goal-scoring chance if the attacker was onside, and lets video review confirm a real offside only after the ball hits the net.
That pause can baffle fans who expect an instant signal from the touchline. Yet the delay is by design, not hesitation, as explained by Sporting News.
Key Takeaways
- Delayed offside flags started in the VAR era to protect correct outcomes.
- Assistants let play finish before signaling a suspected offside.
- A premature flag could wipe out a valid goal-scoring chance.
- Waiting until the ball is in the net lets VAR confirm the call.
- The approach can feel anti-climactic but follows current rules logic.
Why do refs wait to raise the offside flag?
According to Sporting News, assistant referees are directed to let the run of play complete before calling what they believe was offside. The practice began once video assistant referees entered the game.
If the attacker was not actually offside, the result of the play should stand. Holding the flag up too early, only for the review to reverse it, could erase a chance that should have counted.
New viewers already find the offside rule confusing. A late flag makes the rule look even stranger until the reason behind the wait is clear.
How does waiting help VAR get offsides soccer calls right?
The reverse sequence works more cleanly for officials and technology. Assistants hold the flag until the ball finds the net, then signal the suspected offense.
That order gives the video assistant referee time to check the replay and settle the decision with greater accuracy. Sporting News notes the moments can feel anti-climactic, but the method is a logical fit for today's rules.
When have delayed offside flags shown up on the big stage?
Sporting News reported the delayed-flag approach appeared early in the World Cup final between Argentina and Spain, and said it will likely happen again on similar plays.
Related offside technology is also advancing. Brazil's football federation has run semi-automatic offside trials in Brasileirão fixtures, using cameras to track players and the ball and identify the pass and positions within seconds—support for VAR similar to systems seen at the World Cup, without changing on-field decisions during those offline tests.
For more disputed calls and sports mysteries fans keep debating, see our True Crime & Unsolved Mysteries coverage.