Question Number: 24830

Law 11 - Offside 4/17/2011

RE: rec High School

fpitonzo of pasadena, md usa asks...

This question is a follow up to question 24799

So if offensive player is offside near corner flag close to goal line, defensive team has to spot ball close to their own goal line. I would think that would be a disadvantage to defensive team. Common sense would dictate that if defensive team can move ball up to 6yd from goal line for fouls inside goal area, they should be able to move ball up to 6yd from goal line outside goal area. To me that would be common sense and consistent. You don't give same privilege to offensive team because that would give them and advantage(better angle). Reason for moving ball to nearest spot on the 6yd offensively in goal area is to provide space between kick and defensive wall on goal line. if my thinking is not logical(incorrect) than I will change. Let me know. Thanks

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
Referees should apply what is in the Laws of the Game. A free kick inside the goal area can be taken anywhere inside the goal area. Not so on any other free kick on the field of play. It is to be taken from where the offence took place. So if it happens on the goal line near the corner flag that is where the free kick is taken from.
Sometimes teams will complain about the position of a free kick when it is not taken from the correct place and a team gains an advantage. Referees have to implement the Laws and ensure that free kicks are taken from the correct location not 6 yards away. If there is no complaint then the opponents see it as trifling and allow play to continue.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The players expect and are entitled to referees who know both the letter and spirit of the laws.

Common sense cannot replace the letter of the law. I may think it silly to have the restart for offside be indirect since the restart always is taken in the kicker's own half. But I am not free to call for a direct free kick for offside. The laws do not have a 'six-yard' rule.

Common sense always informs the spirit of the law. When referees understand the purpose of a certain rule (tradition, safety, to speed up play, etc.), the referee can apply the laws so as to guide the match to be fair, safe and fun. The referee is directed not to punish doubtful or trifling infringements.

Most referees should not interfere, for example, with a defender taking the kick near the six rather than closer to the defender's goal line. The law requires that the restart take place at the spot of the infringement. Your reasoning supports that the location is 'close enough' to comply with the law - - as a trifling infringement that can be ignored. There may be occasions, however, when the referee believes it important in this match and with these players to apply strictly the restart provisions. (E.g., if the foul occurred inches outside the opponent's penalty area and the restart taken on the penalty area line.) Same law, different application guided by the spirit of the law.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

What you think is logical, fair, consistent or whatever doesn't really matter. It's not up to you or any referee to change the LOTG to suit his/her sense of justice. The LOTG give you plenty of leeway in some areas of the game but the location of restarts is not one of them. The restart is where the infraction took place. If the offside positioned player was near the goal line when the ball was played by his teammate, that's where the restart takes place, not the six.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

I would note, in addition to my colleagues' comments, that the goal area is a small space on the field. There is no six yard line, visible or invisible that extends the width of the field.

While a slight variation from the exact blade of grass upon which the offense took place is acceptable, moving it more than a foot or two is unwise and not allowed under the LOTG. One has to assume if the spot of the foul isn't certain within a small area, that the referee will allow the team some leeway in the interests of fairness and saving time. But stretching this leeway all out of proportion will result in bad feelings on the part of the players and loss of respect for the referee's authority and knowledge.

Which is the long way of saying 'Don't go there!'.