Question Number: 12062

Law 18 - Common Sense 1/17/2006

RE: Adult

Paul Holt of Preston, England asks...

This question is a follow up to question 12037

I recently saw a goal scored (Chelsea V Sunderland 14/01/06) where a player headed the ball back from the line into the box for another player to score. There was debate about whether the ball was out of play when he did this, but a perfect camera angle proved the ball had not crossed the line. However the same camera showed that when the player headed it, one foot was out of play, and the other was in the air. Question, should he have been deemed out of play? Surely you cannot play a ball whilst being out of play?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Actually, you can! In soccer, being over the end line or touch line through the normal course of play is allowed. All that matters is where the ball is. I did not see the match in question but if the camera showed the ball had not crossed over the end line then this is a perfectly legal play. Similarly, the keeper's body may be completely outside his penalty area but if the ball is inside, he's allowed to use his hands on it.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI paul.
both my colleagues have given you the correct answer and by the way my name is not Shirley. (o; LOL!
"Surely you cannot play a ball whilst being out of play?"

What is not allowed is for players to leave without permission to decieve the referee or gain an unfair advantage over their opponents.

This would be say at kickoff a player stands in touch inbehind his technical area and sprints downfield cutting in behind the defenders who would not expect a player entering in that manner. This is NOT permitted.

What we do permit is a yard or two as in overunning the play, going around an opponent or as in your case trying to play the ball inbounds.


Just for future reference FIFA Q&A LAW #31.

Question
A player accidentally passes over one of the boundary lines of the
field of play. Is he considered to have left the fi eld of play without the permission of the referee?
Answer
No.

Question
2. A player in possession of the ball passes over the touch line or the goalline without the ball in order to beat an opponent. What action does the referee take?
Answer
Play continues. Going outside the fi eld of play may be considered as
part of a playing movement, but players are expected, as a general
rule, to remain within the playing area.

This FIFA Q&A LAW 11 states a player NEED not do this but finds no fault UNLESS in the opinion of the referee there is ulterior motives for doing so
Question
2. Does a referee penalise a player who is in an offside position and
moves off the field of play to show the referee that he is not involved
in active play?
Answer
No. It is not an offence in itself to be in an offside position and there is
no need for the player to leave the fi eld of play. However, if the referee considers that he has left the fi eld for tactical reasons and has gained an unfair advantage by re-entering the fi eld of play, the player should be cautioned for unsporting behaviour.


A FIFA Q&A example is found in LAW 11 OFFSIDE that would be classified as DEFINATELY NOT acceptable behaviour
Question
3. A defending player moves beyond his own goal line in order to place an opponent in an offside position. What action does the referee
take?
Answer
The referee allows play to continue and cautions the defender for
unsporting behaviour when the ball is next out of play.
Cheers