The Wijenabaum (?) offside on 70 minutes was just terrible. I didn't get the luxury of any anaysis (Viasat is sh****te and even finished 3 minutes early). There is no danger of a collision with the GK. The AR has the wrong man. It's the kind of decision that sets the whole footy ecosystem back. But I don't think it is the AR's fault.
In mitigation, it is the hardest thing now. Two players central. One starts in an offside position, the other onside, and both move forward. If it is far from goal, I think the AR has to get the flag up. But the referee has to overrule by not whistling and ideally by immediately acknowledging the flag but allowing play to continue. The referee has time to overrule if the play is far from the GK. With the headsets especially the referee has to wave play on and overrule the flag. Of course, we don't actually have a signal or guidance for this "put the flag down - I am overruling" action!
If the same scenario happens closer to goal - if there is not an obvious risk of collision with the GK - I think the AR has to keep the flag down and then deal with any resultant goal or ball out of play after the fact. There is just not the time for the referee to act and the AR must give the attacker the benefit of the doubt - then discuss it i.e. stand still if the ball goes in!
This - (one from offside position, one not, both running upfield in a central area) - is the hardest thing for ARs now. By shear coincidence I discussed this very point with my ARs before a game earlier today! Thankfully we didn't have to deal with it.
