Question Number: 28825

Law 11 - Offside 10/6/2014

RE: Competive Adult

Mark of Barrie, Ontario Canada asks...

I had an unusual inccident happen over the weekend while I was an assistant.

A long ball was played from my left over the heads of the defence into the far corner.

An attacker was clearly offside, and he looked across tat me and saw that he was, so he slowed down allowing the defender to overtake him and get the ball in the far corner.

The attacker stayed relatively close to the defender (10 metres?) but was not putting excessive pressure on the defender, and was basically trotting behing the defender.

Defender gets the ball by corner, takes one touch, and trys to put the ball up the field, but attacker who was originally offside intercepts, and attacks goal - goalkeeper makes the save for a corner (so no harm?)

Defending team were irrate saying that he should have been flagged as offside ..

I disagree because the attacked never became active until the defender played at him.

What thinks others?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Mark,
100% spot on!
No offside, the defender touch of the ball is a deliberate play and the defender was not challenged for the ball possession. The striker is no longer held accountable for being offside since the opposition now has the ball, he can intercept the ball.
What occurs is the defender feels hemmed in by the mere presence of an opponent deep in the corner and thinks he is forced to touch the ball, he is not! The offside opponent would have to within playing distance of the ball to be considered for a challenge. Not going to happen at ten yards away nor does he get in the way of the defender's ability to play or see that ball
Good job mate in keeping the flag down!
Please view the interpretive video links below applicable to the changes in offside interpretation! They may help

The first one is a demonstration/teaching video supplied by FIFA!

The second one is a series of MLS videos of recent offside decisions that highlight current offside thinking! It was a eye opener in that ALL were considered as NOT offside even though the AR had flagged them as offside. So the new interpretations are still being not fully integrated yet by those paid to know better.

(1) FIFA http://garcia-aranda.com/offsideifab/eng001.html

(2) MLS http://www.proreferees.com/news-offside-videos.php
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Mark
Interesting question and one that probably only challenges those in the lower skilled ranks of the game.
Offside was never meant to be an escape clause for poor play. The defender here had clearly erred in that after taking control of the ball without any interference from the player in an offside position kicks the ball to that opponent. That is not offside.
The question though that the AR has to consider in these type of situation is whether the player in an offside position is considered close enough to challenge the opponent. Had the defender waited long enough for the PIOP to get closer without touching the ball then offside would have to be called.