Some fans on social media are stating that as soon as the ball is played and not even reached Lovren yet, Kane should be called offside which is ridiculous because it would be free kick mayhem.
Well of course. I think it is important to point out that it isn't an offence to be in an offside position. I've made this abundantly clear at the start of my games when I get defenders screaming as I've not given any offside calls, and I've warned players that any more of that and I'll book them for dissent. Quite a lot of people seem to think, okay, he's offside, blow the whistle, but they forget it is an offence that requires more than just the positioning to be called off.
Now here's the part that I find interesting. If Lovren takes a touch or controls the ball, and Kane comes from his offside position to tackle Lovren, that's offside right? It's still the same phase? Don't we see it all the time when a player is offside, makes a movement towards the ball or attempts to play the ball when he's returning to an onside position to tackle the defender and that's offside.
I think so, at least that's how I read it, as an interfering offence. (Challenging an opponent for the ball)
Yet, because Lovren mis-kicks the ball and it runs through to Kane, he's onside? Does anyone not see a slight contradiction here or a small loophole in the law?
Loophole for what? Kane challenging from an offside position becomes active. Kane standing in an offside position, receiving the ball from his teammates is an easy and clear offside. Kane standing in an offside positioning and the ball riochets off Lovren, offside.
In most circumstances, short of being fouled himself, he's offside.
Kane standing there and Lovren miscuing his clearance = fine, since Lovren has deliberately played the ball. I'd say most situations, Lovren would successfully clear the ball, or he'd miss and it would be offside. I can't see quite how a team would exploit this potential 'loophole', I mean they already do it by having a striker drop behind the defender in anticipation of a passback, but I think any strategy based around getting behind the line and hoping for a mis-clearance will probably skyrocket the offside stat for that match and wouldn't be very successful!
That's how I see it anyway.
EDIT: I see Mark Clattenburg has thrown his hat into the ring. His logic sounds a bit dodgy to me, but I'll say no more.