Overview
- Jochen Drees, the 56-year-old head of innovation and technology at the DFB’s Schiri GmbH, said he is not a fan of offside tolerances.
- He argued that even a one-centimeter difference can decide whether an offside is punishable, opposing built-in margins for such calls.
- He questioned FIFA’s acceptance of national deviations, saying he has not found any clause that explicitly permits a tolerance and is surprised it is allowed.
- The Premier League currently uses a five-centimeter margin for very close offside situations that can allow play to continue.
- He added that a similar approach in Germany could be requested if Bundesliga clubs want it, describing the refereeing organization as a service provider to the leagues.