Question Number: 27277

Law 11 - Offside 3/28/2013

RE: Competitive Adult

Dan Torchio of Wake Forest, nc usa asks...

If a defender runs OUT OF PLAY past the goal line, can they still be construed as the 'next to last defender' since they are off the playing field. I had a High School match I was an AR for and it occurred, uh-oh, she's off the field...she WAS the next to last defender...is she NOW the next to last defender? I know when we discuss attackers we've mentioned they can run out-of-bounds running up the line provided it's during the course of normal play. How would you construe that defender who happened to run off the field attempting to make a move towards the ball?

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Dan,

If a player leaves the field over the goal line, we consider them to be on the goal line for the purposes of offside only. This is the only manner that works - I'm sure you could imagine all sorts of problems that would occur if we suddenly took this player out of the equation.

This would hold true for any reason the player leaves the goal line - although I was once faced with a situation where an injured defender dragged himself over the goal line, but play continued. I determined that the only fair solution was to consider him to remain on the goal line until the phase of play had clearly changed and I could be certain that I could consider him removed from the field, but that's a tricky scenario.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Dan
A defender who leaves the field of play is placed on the field of play at the nearest point for the purpose of determining offside. In this case the defender is placed on the goal line and the AR looks for the 2nd last opponent perhaps the goalkeeper to evaluate offside.
If a defender does this deliberately to place an opponent in an offside position the referee allows play to continue and cautions the defender at the next stoppage.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 27278