Question Number: 27314

Law 5 - The Referee 4/13/2013

RE: Intermediate Under 12

Phil of Tarzana, CA United States asks...

This question is a follow up to question 27307

This raises an interesting issue, although I confess it would be extremely rare...maybe impossible. Suppose the offside player was deep in the opponents half when his/her teammate last kicked the ball high & near their own goal. He/she runs back deep on his own side and gets the ball, surrounded by opponents.

The referee can allow advantage on an offside infringement, right? Would the referee be entitled to wait to see if the opponents recovered the ball from the offside infringer? Otherwise, they would be forced to take the IDFK from much further from the opponents' goal.

Thanks for all the advice,

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Phil
Yes advantage can be played on Law 11 offences. So if the referee deems it more advanatgeous to allow play to continue then so be it. Example include the goalkeeper catching the ball after it is played by the player in an offside position or where it disadvantages the team by bring play back for the IDFK in the situation you describe. However waiting to see if the ball is recovered is rarely if ever an advantage situation.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Yes Phil, we joined the rest of the world in 2011 and allow advantage to be allowed for infringements of any Law.