Question Number: 28961

Law 11 - Offside 11/9/2014

RE: Competitive Under 15

Aaron Speca of Virginia Beach, VA United States asks...

Gentlemen! I haven't had a question for a while, still enjoying reading. This question has to do with everyone's favorite topic once again, off sides.

In this play, there are two grey defenders and one red offensive player engaged around the ball. One grey defender attempts a clear that appears to deflect off of the other grey defender and carom to another red player who is in off sides position, and she appears to score.

The referee ruled an off sides violation and waved the goal off.

It was my understanding that an off sides violation should not be called because the red player did not have any contact with the ball after the grey defender attempted a controlled clear.

The possibility I can think of other than the referee simply thought the red player did contact the ball, is that perhaps ITOOTR the red player influenced the play and caused the ball to go to the player in off sides position? Is there a provision or interpretation in the laws for that?

Thanks, as always ... oh and of course I have it on video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5V1FdS8KHSo

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Aaron
I had to look at this a number of times to ascertain what happened. It looks like the defenders played the ball only in which case there could not have been any offside.
We have the luxury of video and multiple viewing opportunities from a particular angle. The referee crew did not and the referee and assistant made what they thought was the correct decision.
The CR looks across to the AR who no doubt flags for offside thinking that the ball came off Red. Red certainly looks like she made a kicking motion in the direction the ball went which does not help particularly from the angle of view of the AR.
Here is a video of a correctly awarded goal where the referee sees that the ball has been kicked by Green to the Blue player in an offside position. The CR correctly asks the AR to drop the flag as he has seen that the ball was played by Green which meant it could not be offsiðe and play continued resulting in a goal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2abds-p-57E&t=3m30s
BTW another coaching point. If the scorer had stayed in an onside position to receive the ball from a team mate the offside does not arise in any circumstance. Attackers should alway be alert to positioning and being in an offside position limits their participation should the ball be touched. / played by a team mate.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Aaron,

Glad you're still enjoying the site - and as always, the videos make it so much easier to answer!

In order for offside to occur, there needs to a touch by an attacking player, and then the 2nd attacking player has to be involved in active play (usually by touching the ball, though it can be interfering with an opponent). Basically, there needs to be 2 attackers involved and the first needs to touch the ball. When the defender cleared the ball it was pretty much still, so it's not the case that it was a deflection that went to another attacker - the defender cleared it the side, but just did a bad job of it. But, because there was no attacking touch before this, offside is the wrong decision.

It may be that the Assistant Referee thought the attacker in the middle did get a touch on the ball (and the referee wasn't 100% he didn't, so didn't overrule the AR) - I thought he did at first, but I think that's just because he seems to move his foot towards the ball.

There's no provision for the first attacker to influence the defenders - he MUST touch the ball for any other attacker to potentially breach the Offside law.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Aaron, good to see you still with us!
I hold that UNLESS you are 100% sure it is offside, keep the flag down!
You will be right more often than wrong! Given the footage I saw, it appears offside was an incorrect decision but as it was the referee's decision, as a fact of play, it is undisputable now. Lose the s on offside its rather like saying geeses. or mooses. There is no provision on law for a challenge by an onside player to cause a deliberate action by a defender to go astray. IF it was an offside opponent who challenged or obstructed the defender then an offside infraction needed for interference!
Cheers