I think you're misinterpreting what they're saying Alex. They're talking about proximity of the PIOP to the opponent, not the ball. The simple fact that the ball travels near the PIOP does not make it an offence. Yes, it's unfair because the keeper IS affected by the presence, but under the LOTG that's not enough. Kind of like when a sweeper is drawn out of position to mark a PIOP. It has a big impact upon play, but any impact the PIOP has upon the decision making of the defender is, like it or not, irrelevant.
I think the passage you quoted would be talking more about, say, a PIOP taking an action, such as approaching a defender who's about to play the ball. The fact that he ducked means, in black and white, that he hasn't interfered with play.
As I said, all that matters is whether he interfered with an opponent - and simply being there, or moving out of the way of the ball, hasn't been sufficient for that for quite some years. If the keeper seemed unable to make the dive properly without colliding with him, that's the only potential justification for disallowing the goal.
With regard to the AR flagging...this has always been a bone of contention for me, as the AR cannot possibly have a view as to whether the player in the offside position interfered, and the referee often (though not in this case) cannot call the offside as he is not in line with the last defender. So what are they supposed to do??
This is a disconnect for me that no-one has ever adequately explained.
SM has explained his approach - the AR is to keep the flag down and stay rooted to the spot, that's a signal to SM that something is wrong.
But this is a good point. There are a number of other scenarios where something similar occurs - say, the ball travels through a crowded penalty area. There's an PIOP but you're not sure if he got a touch on the ball - what do you do?
I think it's worth discussing these mechanics. Is there a typical convention on your side of the pond, or will it be up to each referee?
