Question Number: 17383

Law 11 - Offside 10/18/2007

RE: Youth Select Under 15

Mark of Westport, CT USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 17343

Example: Attacker is in the attacking half in an offside position five yards beyond the 2nd last defender, who is standing at midfield. The ball is played over the top of the defense by Attacker's teammate on a diagonal. Attacker takes off after the ball and maintains the five yard lead over 2nd last defender as he chases down the ball. There is some doubt to me as AR as to whether attacker will reach the ball before it passes over a boundary line, I follow the play down the line. Goalie maintains position in the penalty area so no danger of a collision there - no reason to flag. Attacker finally tracks down the ball in the corner after a 50 yard run two yards before it crosses the goal line, whereupon I raise my flag to indicate the offside infraction.

Q1. If it is not an offense to be in an offside position, then why would the point of the restart be at the place where the offide player was when the ball was last touched by his teammate? (In this case, five yards deep into the attacking end.) It seems to me that the offense occurs when the player becomes actively involved in the play (to use the shorthand), and that therefore the restart should be located at that point - in this case, two yards from the goal line.

Q2. If the restart indeed is at the position of player when the ball was last touched, then I assume the proper mechanic is to run back up the touchline after the offside whistle (almost all the way to midfield in this case) to indicate the position of the restart. Is this correct?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

It seems is a funny thing? FIFA says the offside restart is where the offside position was established not when the involvemet occurs. It might very be funny but that is where the restart is

In my opinion a ball into the corner being actively pursued by an offside attacker as the only attacker with a remote opportunity to get to this ball being followed by an opponent who is obviously prepared not to let this happen sets me thinking the inteference in play is likely enough for me to discount the possibility the offside attacker may or may not catch that ball prior to it leaving the field thus it is likely sufficent for me to raise the flag in the third game of a tournament day. In an elite match I might run it down as you did but truthfully this is where the little light clicks on in the refridgerator only when you open it.

If you run with play and the involvement occurs but the restart location is miles away. Your flag up and then side step your way back up to the correct location and point at the appropriate near mid or far, location.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

When a player turns and chases the ball, that is where he began to be involved in play. We know we have to wait to see if he actually is involved - but if he is, his involvement began at the spot where he was when the ball was last touched by a teammate.

I would note that USSF and FIFA have said that we don't have to wait for the lone ranger to chase down a ball for 40 yards before we raise the flag. If it is apparent that only the offside-positioned player will be able to get to the ball, we can call the offense earlier and save everyone a bit of time and effort. It might also avoid a collision with a defender.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Yes it is not an offence in itself to be in an offside position, however if you are in an offside position and participate in play enough so the referee gives the opponents offside you began the offence from where you were when the ball was last touched by your side. It is entirely possible, but WAY remote, that you may be in an offside position at the left corner arc in your opponent's half and run all the way across the field diagonal and touch the ball in your right corner arc. This is an offside offence if the ball was last touched or played by a team mate when you were at the left corner arc and there is no intervening touch --way remote. The correct restart of play is where you were at the last touch, the opponent's left corner arc. The mechanic suggested is correct. Flag up for offside offence, then transition to where the offside position was first established and signal far, middle or near.

Regards,