Question Number: 29240

Law 11 - Offside 3/11/2015

RE: Other

Jimmy Couch of Rogersville, TN USA asks...

Is this offside and if not why? MLS Video online at.
http://soc.cr/K5dcI

Major League Soccer (MLS)


Pappa --> Oba --> Dempsey.

Clockwork: http://soc.cr/K5dcI

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Jimmy,
NOT offside because
(1) when Pappa passes to #9 Oba
Oba is not offside positioned, he is slightly further away than the 2nd last defender from the goal line
(2) Oba runs AFTER the ball in behind the 2nd last defender where he plays this ball and continues towards goal. Dempsey is there with him . The keeper comes out to challenge
(3) when Oba passes to #2 Dempsey
Dempsey is NOT offside positioned because he is BEHIND the ball, further away from the goal line at the time of the pass

no 2nd last opponent then the ball is that imaginary line you see on the TV across the field that determines position when the team mate last touches the ball

offside LAW 11 states

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
THIS NEVER OCCURED

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

A player in an offside position is only penalised if, at the moment the ball touches or is played by one of his team,

AT THE CRITICAL MOMENT WHEN THE TEAM MATE LAST TOUCHES THE BALL
FREEZE FRAME THE POSITION OF THE PLAYER RECIEVING THE PASS. THAT IS THE DETERMINING POSITION THAT POINTS OUTS
YES HE IS OFFSIDE THUS CANNOT PARTICIPATE IN PLAY
OR
NO HE IS NOT OFFSIDE! PLAY CONTINUES. IT IS NOT WHEN HE RECIEVES THE BALL!

This was a good goal and an excellent teaching video to freeze frame the particulars to show by the POSITIONAL locations at EACH touch of the ball at no time was there an offside position guilty of involvement as all parties were onside

Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jimmy
No possible offside here. Both attacking players Martins #9 and Dempsey #2 were both onside when the ball was played through by #10. It only made a difference though on that play the position of Martins #9 as Dempsey did not interfere with play or with an opponent.
Now when Martins #9 plays the ball Dempsey #2 is behind the ball which is an onside position and he cannot be called offside. Dempsey shows the classical position of not getting ahead of the ball in this position which would place him in an offside position.