Clear up the offside rule?

Quote: GiantDee "The extract from the laws of the game below suggest that neither Mr Cummins nor Mr Bentham actually understand the laws of the game. The reference is clearly to offside being judged against the position of the players, not wishing to be a gramatical pedant, but the placement of commas is clear, the reference can only be to the position of players.

Interestingly there is no reference whatsoever to feet, planted or otherwise. Mr Cummins & Mr Benthams job is to apply the laws, they have no authority to make them up.

If this was placed before lawyers, Smith was offside, however fortunately matches are not decided in the courts, Leeds won, Saints lost and both sides will get good and bad calls in future.

As for the refs, Mr Cummins will continue to fail to improve refereeing standards as long as he continues to argue up is down, better to say nothing than complete rubbish.

1
THE INTERNATIONAL LAWS OF THE GAME
AND
NOTES ON THE LAWS
Page
SECTION 14 Offside ......................................................................36

SECTION 14
OFF SIDE
When off side 1. A player is off side except when he is in his own ingoal
if the ball touches, is touched, held or kicked, by
one of his own team behind him.
Out of Play 2. An off side player shall not take any part in the game
or attempt in any way to influence the course of the
game. He shall not encroach within ten metres of an
opponent who is waiting for the ball and shall
Retire ten metres immediately retire ten metres from any opponent
who first secures possession of the ball.
Placed onside 3. An off side player is placed onside if:
(a) an opponent moves ten metres or more with the
ball.
(b) an opponent touches the ball without retaining it.
(c) one of his own team in possession of the ball
runs in front of him.
(d) one of his own team kicks or knocks the ball
forward and takes up a position in front of him in
the field of play.
(e) he retires behind the point where the ball was last
touched by one of his own team.
NOTES
Catcher claiming 1. A player who catches the ball near an off side opponent must
off side not go out of his way to make interference in play by the
offside player unavoidable. He should proceed with normal
play and rely on the Referee to penalise the off side player if
the latter interferes with play. If the catcher deliberately and
unnecessarily runs into the off side player then play should
proceed.
Accidental off side Where the Referee is satisfied that interference with play by
an off side player is accidental he should order a scrum.
Interfering with 2. Any off side player who remains within ten metres of an
Catcher opponent who is set to catch a kick up field by an opposing
player shall be deemed to be interfering with or attempting to
interfere with the catcher and shall be penalised unless the
non-offending team gains an immediate advantage.
“Out of Play” as 3. Players who are out of play at a play-the-ball (Section 11), a
opposed to “off side” scrum (Section 12), a kick off or drop-out (Section
Your post above suggests that you don't know the rules of the game and have just read the section on offside! There is no rule that directly talks about what is on-side and off-side for attacking players with and attacking kick however, you would expect the rules to be consistent in relation to kicks yes?

Can I therefore draw your attention to Section 13, rule 3 which is the rule that does indeed cover 'Positions of Players' when a kick is taken!

So they got it wroing eh?