Bobby doesn't challenge an opponent for the ball. He attempts to head a ball that no-one else has leapt to contest.
He didn't challenge anyone in jumping for an uncontested attempt to play the ball.
Whilst trying to head a ball he leapt for, this action has no material impact on an opponent.
Did he materially impact the keeper ? No, he did nothing to stop the keeper from moving to Ox.
He didn't prevent an opponent from jumping for the ball.
There was no play being made or an attempt to play the ball that can be said to have been thwarted by Bobby.
Even if I accept he clearly obstructed the defenders field of vision when he jumped for the ball there was no action being taken that the visual field being obstructed prevented.
Bobby sprung like a Salmon, he didn't touch the ball, didn't prevent an opponent from completing an action.
He had no material impact on the play of an opponent.
Their defender had committed to attend to Bobby, their keeper arguably attended to him too.
The city lad runs towards the ball, he didn't physically prevent the keeper intercepting the cross or shot. He didn't prevent a defender from intercepting the pass or marking laporte.
He most certainly distracted the keeper and defense but not in a material manner. He caused chaos without having a material impact upon the play. The keeper is forced to attend to him, a defender is calling for the offside player to be flagged.
But by the rules he didn't have a material impact on the play or opponent.
You've provided the rules, they are clearly defined.
These blue line complaints you have are all valid complaints in general. But the do not meet the criteria of the rules on what constitutes a foul play with respect to offside, no.
Had Bobby touched the ball, sure.
Had he challenged an opponent for the header/ball, sure.
Had their defender being making a play or attempting to make a play on the ball, but their vision was clearly obstructed, sure.
Had he obstructed an opponent sure.
As it was he tried to head a ball, which would have intercepted the ball but it didn't.
No one got closer to intercepting the ball.
No one made a move that he thwarted.
He didnt challenge an opponent for the ball.
He was deemed to have had an immaterial impact on the play which was from robbo to ox. Same way cities goal stood.
If I was going to kick a ball and my visual field is clearly obstructed by an offside player you can objectively see that event occur. That would make the visual obstruction clear in preventing the play.
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