Question Number: 27967

Law 11 - Offside 11/3/2013

RE: Under 10

Mike of Linthicum, MD USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 14

Blue team is taking a corner kick. There is blue player on the far post on the goal line. The White team goalkeeper is on the near post goal line. The corner kick is taken. The ball reaches the middle of the 6 yard line, a Blue team player fires a shot at the goalie over his head but the keeper bats the ball in the air, steps forward on the 1 yard line waiting for the ball to come down. Now, the Blue team player on the goal line is past the second to the last defender and the goalie, comes from an offside position, runs around 'in front of' the goalie, challenges the ball in the air and scores a header in the goal. The referee called offside. I say goal was good because the offside had to come from the pass from our own team which it did not, since the goalie last touched the ball which was in the air, no offside. ???? Am I right?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Mike
When the shot by the Blue player was saved by the White goalkeeper that save did not reset the offside so offside continued to apply to those players in an offside position at the time of the shot. The Blue player who was in an offside position could not legally play the ball as he was in offside terms 'gaining an advantage by being in that position'
Law 11 states and I quote
"Gaining an advantage by being in that position" means playing a ball
i. that rebounds or is deflected to him off the goalpost, crossbar or an opponent having been in an offside position
ii. that rebounds, is deflected or is played to him from a deliberate save by an opponent having been in an offside position
A player in an offside position receiving the ball from an opponent, who deliberately plays the ball (except from a deliberate save), is not considered to have gained an advantage.''
In your scenario Point ii would apply as it was a save by the goalkeeper so the correct call was made.
Restart is an IDFK from anywhere inside the goal area.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Mike: The goalkeeper made a deliberate save of the ball, and this means that the blue opponent remains ineligible to play the ball (because he was in offside position at the time of the shot). When he played the ball, he was offside for 'gaining an advantage.'