Question Number: 29213

Law 11 - Offside 2/28/2015

RE: Comp Under 15

John Arnold of berkeley, ca usa asks...

In the Man Utd v Sunderland game today, United had a goal disallowed for offside. It appeared to me that the keeper played the ball deliberately (it wasn't an uncontrolled rebound off him) even though it went to the opposition player. As such, was it a legitimate goal? Your thoughts?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi John.
if the deliberate play is a deliberate ...SAVE... , offside is NOT reset. A deliberate save is treated as a rebound or deflection even though it is NOT!
The distinction is based on the keeper or player deliberately playing the ball to keep it out of the goal as opposed to gain control or stop the opposition from acquiring possession. If the opinion of the officials is the scorer GAINED an ADVANTAGE off the save, offside criteria apply and an INDFK out is the result of participation. No goal!
It is...POSSIBLE.. though for a keeper to deliberately play a ball that is NOT classified as a save including the legal use of the hands and as such...WOULD...reset offside
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi John
This was clearly a save by the goalkeeper trying to stop a shot entering the goal. Law 11 states that 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. The exception is relevant here as the save was not a deliberate play of the ball and as such did not reset offside.
Good decision by the AR and well spotted.