By Ian Hughes

Allardyce's shots are not being heard by Fifa

Fifa has claimed its latest guidelines on the offside law are nothing new and are understood by players and managers.

Despite growing calls to change the law, Fifa has stood firm and says its objective of promoting attacking football is now being achieved.

A Fifa spokesman told BBC Sport: "There seems to be misunderstanding in the media, but not among those in the game.

"Goals and attacking opponents were being cancelled out by players being offside but not interfering with play."

The law now states that a player in an offside position is only penalised if involved in interfering with play, interfering with an opponent or gaining an advantage by being in that position.

However, the level of confusion as to what determines "active" play seems to be rising at an alarming rate and Bolton boss Sam Allardyce is among those unhappy with Fifa's guidelines.

Bolton exploit new rule

After his side's draw with Leicester on Tuesday, in which Bolton pushed the offside law to the limit, Allardyce said: "I don't think it adds anything to the game whatsoever other than confusion.

"It's not the referees fault, it's Fifa's. I think they have got it wrong."

But Fifa maintains "this is not a new rule, it is a clarification of the interpretation of a rule".

Surely any offside player must be interfering with play, if they're there in the first place? From TM Have your say on 606

And Fifa insisted: "Further details of the rule were given to ensure the laws of the game are respected, and to protect the attacking players."

That may be the case, but Allardyce is one voice in a growing chorus of dissenters.

Allardyce said he hopes Fifa "will change it (the guidelines) back" but that appears unlikely.