Question Number: 29122

Law 11 - Offside 1/22/2015

RE: pro Adult

jimoh of ilorin, kwara nigeria asks...

interfering with ball and player, more explanation

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Our answers will concentrate on your question as it applies to ..Offside.. as opposed to other types of interfering, shielding the ball within playing distance, impeding or fouling an opponent etc....

interfering with play which involves CONTACT with the ball
This is why when an onside and an offside player from the same team is in pursuit of the ball we are to wait for a PHYSICAL TOUCH of the BALL by ANY body part to be 100% sure there is true interference

It also has interferes with an opponent, loosely described in three parts;
-challenging for the ball, which is again loosely configured as a deliberate action within two steps at the speed of play where the opponent is unfairly pressured by the offside player for ball possession preventing them from playing the ball

(2 steps at the speed of play = remember soccer is moving and the faster you move the greater the length of your stride so you might be a bit farther away from an opponent yet at times we are still and waiting thus much closer to an opponent| To be guilty of interfering the proximity of the offside participant must actually affect what choices and actions the opponent can take)

OR
-by clearly obstructing the player from being able to get to and play the ball
-by blocking their sight line so they can not react to the ball being played at all

Essentially the last 2 are both (a)- positional events, where there might be no attempt by the offside player to challenge, simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time by getting in their opponents way or vision OR
(b)-a direct action event designed to block or impede so an opponent does not even have a chance to get to being able to play the ball effectively, ahead of say, an onside attacker who is also in pursuit.

Often people are confused with the phrase; ..playing or touching the ball..
The significant difference between the two, is in my opinion, ..playing.. is a deliberate action initiated by the player whereas a ..touch.. could simply be accidental or a reflexive inadvertent contact with the ball

Jimoh you need to read the LOTG you need to read the interpretive sections and you need to find a mentor that can guide you along your path. Refereeing is as much art as science and while you glean information from other's experience, only by doing to gather in your own, will it start to make sense

FIFA QUOTE
Definitions
In the context of Law 11 – Offside, the following definitions apply:
• "nearer to his opponents' goal line" means that any part of a player's head, body or feet is nearer to his opponents' goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent. The arms are not included in this definition

• "interfering with play" means playing or touching the ball passed or touched by a team-mate

• "interfering with an opponent" means preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent's line of vision or challenging an opponent for the ball

• "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

LAW 11 OFFSIDE

Offside position
It is not an offence in itself to be in an offside position. A player is in an offside position if:
• he is nearer to his opponents' goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent
A player is not in an offside position if:
• he is in his own half of the field of play or
• he is level with the second-last opponent or
• he is level with the last two opponents

Offence
A player in an offside position is only penalised if, at the moment the ball touches or is played by one of his team, he is, in the opinion of the referee, involved in active play by:
• interfering with play or
• interfering with an opponent or
• gaining an advantage by being in that position

No offence
There is no offside offence if a player receives the ball directly from:
• a goal kick • a throw-in • a corner kick

Infringements and sanctions
In the event of an offside offence, the referee awards an indirect free kick to the opposing team to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred (see Law 13 – Position of free kick).

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jimoh
There are two interfering terms in offside. Interfering with play and interfering with an opponent.
Very simply interfering with play means the player in an offside position playing or touching the ball passed or touched by a team-mate while Interfering with an opponent means preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent's line of vision or challenging an opponent for the ball also while offside.
It is left to the referee to decide what is a challenge and what is obstructing a players line of vision.