The Case Against Delayed Flags

Football is no stranger to reform. Whether it’s the back-pass rule, goal-line technology, or even VAR, the game has continuously evolved to meet the demands of modernity. But there is one aspect of the VAR era that is long overdue for revision - the delayed offside flag.

After yesterday's horrific news that Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi has been placed in an induced coma following a serious collision with a goalpost, the time has finally come to abolish the controversial, and frankly dangerous rule.

Brought in to ensure legal goal-scoring opportunities won’t be prevented by human error, the rule requires assistant referees to delay raising the offside flag in borderline offside situations until the attacking phase of play concludes. In theory, it protects attacks that may have been wrongly stopped, but in practice, it’s a hazard.

Since its introduction in the Premier League during the 2020–21 season, the rule has sparked frustration among fans, particularly those attending matches, who often say they struggle to fully celebrate attacking moments, knowing a delayed offside flag could ultimately kill the move.

However, the rule has also exposed the dangers players face when play is allowed to continue after an offside should have been called.

In Awoniyi’s case, the Nigerian striker suffered a horrific collision with the post while attempting to reach Anthony Elanga’s cross - part of an attacking move that should have been halted much earlier, as Elanga was clearly a yard offside at the start of the phase.

Sadly, Awoniyi’s case isn’t an isolated one.

Rewind to October 2020. In one of the most infamous examples of the dangers posed by delayed flags, Virgil van Dijk, arguably the best centre-back in the world, tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after a reckless challenge by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. The Liverpool defender was in an offside position prior to the tackle.

The flag was raised only after the Dutchman had been clattered, and the injury ruled van Dijk out for nearly a year, significantly derailing Liverpool’s season. This incident was heavily scrutinised, and the referee on the day, Michael Oliver, admitted the tackle should have warranted a further punishment for Pickford.

He told the Mail Online, "We got sucked too much into going step by step as opposed to thinking of the bigger process, which was considering the challenge as well and not just the fact it can’t be a penalty. We should have restarted with the offside, as we did, but with a different punishment for Jordan Pickford."

And then, six months later, there’s Wolves goalkeeper Rui Patricio, who was knocked unconscious in March 2021 after colliding with teammate Conor Coady in a game against Liverpool.

Patricio suffered a huge blow to the head as he and Coady attempted to stop Mohamed Salah from scoring. Salah was offside, but the delay in the flag created a situation where players continued at full intensity, unaware that the action would eventually be nullified.

Manchester City also fell victim twice to the rule in 2023/24, losing both John Stones and Ederson to injury in the space of three weeks, both of whom injured themselves in defensive situations that should’ve been halted earlier due to offsides.

These are not entirely freak accidents. They are direct consequences of a well-meaning but flawed law that sacrifices player safety at the cost of competitive gain. The logic behind the delayed flag is rooted in this obsession of making the game ‘perfect’. VAR can correct on-pitch errors, but ignores the immediate realty for players, who do not have the luxury of hindsight.

They must commit, challenge, and collide in real-time.

Of course, football is a contact sport, and risk of injury is part-and-parcel of the game. But not all risk is unavoidable. When a rule actively increases the potential for preventable injury, it has failed in its duty to protect those on the pitch.

Defenders and goalkeepers, in particular, suffer the most from this system. In an era where milliseconds and inches define offside, defenders are being forced to chase down forwards they know are offside, simply because the flag won’t be raised. Goalkeepers must make split-second decisions to rush out or stay put, often ending in collisions that could’ve been avoided if the whistle had blown.

Critics will argue that without delayed flags, legitimate goals might be chalked off prematurely. However, this is a false equivalence. A disallowed goal can be corrected with VAR and replays. A broken leg, a concussion, or a torn ligament? There’s no VAR that can rewind time and undo that.

Football’s lawmakers, primarily IFAB and FIFA, must place player safety above all else. No goal is worth a player’s career. As we stand in 2025, the indefensible that the sport has not responded more decisively to the growing list of casualties this rule has led to.

The solution is clear – restore power and trust to assistant referees. If they are confident enough to flag offside immediately, they should be allowed to. This is in place across the EFL, non-league, and thousands of leagues across the planet. Why should the elite leagues be any different?

Only in clear and obvious cases should VAR step in to clarify. Additionally, the recent introduction of semi-automated offside technology in top leagues can enhance precision and reduce pressure on linesmen.

VAR was supposed to make football fairer. But in trying to perfect decision-making, we’ve compromised player well-being.

Awoniyi will spend tonight in a hospital bed. Van Dijk had to rebuild his knee after months on the sidelines. Patricio was stretchered off with many fearing the worst.

It’s time to blow the whistle on the delayed flag rule – permanently.