MLS guideline didn't work for Orlando City SC in the New York City FC match

The collision and injuries to Orlando City SC goalkeeper and New York City FC winger Malachi Jones created a lingering MLS policy question.

Both players had to be stretchered off the pitch after the 18th minute.

Orlando keeper Mason Stajduhar suffered a season-ending broken tibia and fibula in his right leg. He has undergone successful surgery.

New York City winger Malachi Jones also underwent successful surgery for the same breaks, also in his right leg. But he began rehabilitation immediately. The club thinks he might return once he’s dismissed.

After a 15th-minute New York goal, there was another attack on the Orlando net. Jones was called offside in the 18th minute, but the play was allowed to continue.

Jones and Stajduhar collided, breaking their right legs.

Allowing play to continue with the offside flag down is what triggered the calls to review MLS policy.

Everyone understands the basic idea of offside. It’s International Football Association Board Law 11.

While this law gets involved, the basic idea is easy to see on the pitch. When any part of a player’s head, body, or feet is in the opponent’s half and nearer to the opponents’ goal than both the ball and second-last opponent.

But football associations have been fiddling with the basics of offside rules to favor attacking squads. They hope this will amp up the game, reduce offside calls, and make offside situations easier to spot.

There is an additional MLS guideline in the case resulting in injuries to Stajduhar and Jones. This guideline allows a referee to check the player called offside – Jones. The referee quickly determines whether the offside player is interfering with the play or an opponent.

This guideline speaks to the high-level of skill required of referees in MLS. This referee had to judge if Jones was level with the second-last or last two opponents. Then the official needed to make certain Jones was at an acceptable distance from an opponent.

Lastly, the referee had to determine whether Jones received the ball or was behind it when passed.

With those three tests passed, the MLS guideline allowed the referee to permit play to continue after the offside was called.

Orlando City SC Head Coach Oscar Pareja said players are exposed to injuries when an obvious offside is recognized, yet play continues.

MLS is right to join other leagues in exploring ways to brighten up the game. But this guideline isn’t working.