The offside rule in football ( How is offside determined in football?How is offside determined in football?) is the source of a large amount of goal-related controvesy, and is argued by some to diminish the entertainment value of the game.
It is also argued that since its abolition from Hockey, that game has become more entertaining.
Periodically, plans are mooted, but invariably fail.
So, what are its origins, and why have all calls to scrap it been resisted?