Referees' boss Keith Hackett insists Graham Barber was right to allow Ruud van Nistelrooy's controversial goal against Southampton. The Dutchman netted the winner from close-range, with Saints boss Gordon Starchan claiming he should have been flagged offside.
But Hackett says Barber was right to allow the goal because Van Nistelrooy was not interfering with play and thinks the change in the rule will make for more entertaining football.
"When the ball was played into the Southampton box on Saturday, Van Nistelrooy was offside," Hackett told BBC Sport.
"But he wasn't active, and the assistant deemed him to be passive.
"When the ball is played into the box again it is the second phase, and he's not in an offside position so he can come back into play.
"The law used to be, if a player was ahead of the game, no matter where he was on the pitch, he would be flagged offside.
"The problem with this is that it used to break up the flow of the game and make it a lot less exciting.
"The skill factor comes in because players have to find a way of countering the offside rule and assistant referees have to learn when to raise their flag and when to delay it, and for how long."
The change in the interpretation of the rule was passed at a Fifa meeting in September, and Hackett believes such alterations should only happen in the summer.
"I do not like any change during the course of a season," added Hackett.
"We need everyone fully involved in the game to understand fully any law changes.
"But the interpretation was sent to clubs and managers, and the more discerning managers understand it fine."
Premier League interpretation of Law 11: Offside
Sent to every Premier League club on 19 November 2003
A player in an offside position is only penalised if, at the moment the ball is touched or played by one of his team, he is, in the opinion of the referee involved in active play by:
Interfering with play, i.e. playing or touching a ball passed or touched by a teammate. Interfering with an opponent, i.e. preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball, or making a gesture or movement while standing in the path of the ball to deceive or distract an opponent. Gaining an advantage by being in that position, i.e. playing a ball that rebounds off a post or the crossbar having been in an offside position, or playing a ball that rebounds off an opponent having been in an offside position. 
MMIX
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