Question Number: 29475

Law 11 - Offside 6/11/2015

RE: Intermediate Under 13

Phil of Tarzana, CA United States asks...

This question is a follow up to question 29474

This is a Follow Up Question to Q# 29474

Thanks for all the explanations. I looked at all the videos. In the second goal (CLB vs. PHI) at http://www.proreferees.com/news-play-of-the-week---2014---wk33.php, it sure looked to me that the play by the defender (#21) was a deliberate save. There are 3 players from left to right: the defender #21, the GK, & the PIOP. The ball is crossed by an attacker to another attacker, who is in an onside position. He takes a shot on the goal, which is about to enter the goal. #21 miskicks it from about 2 feet in front of the goal (it would have otherwise gone into the goal) directly to PIOP, who scores. I don't see how that isn't a deliberate save.

Thanks again,

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Phil,
In truth many of us were thinking similar thoughts!
... MAYBE... that the information in 2014 of ...THAT video... was reassessed at the start of 2015 season when Pro and FIFA , debated these particular contentious calls. I seem to recall at least 2 of their former non offside calls in 2014 were considered as offside by the IFAB when they presented a forum to discuss their strict adhering to the NEW offside interpretations?

I hold the opinion that most of us if in fact all of us could have awarded an offside as well. The fact that the pro league officials who use mikes are now communicating offside verbally before raising the flag was something I was unaware of ! But given how dramatically the deliberate actions seem to be more assessed by the referee than the AR is a new development in managing offside! They are getting more goals but not sure their on field management was made easier

While I understand the concepts, the reality is the EXACT same problem we have with DH (Deliberate Handling)! On any given day the same action is not a foul as it is an OPINION of the referee because we are not able to effectively analyze and process what we see as a deliberate action or simply being in the way of the ball. Now it would appear that offside suffers from a similar malady!

If you watched the Women's world cup have a look at the Thailand/ Ivory Coast goal highlights, two are blatant offside not tricky at all. Despite the aura of these unusual situations it is STILL the most obvious offside that are often called incorrectly sigh Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Phil
For the vast majority of referees in the world the advice and interpretation is what is in contained in the Laws of the game. In fact IFAB tells us is that it is the only body that can provide that interpretation.
Now at the highest level confederations including FIFA have provided advice to its highest level referees through their referee departments on bringing further interpretation say on offside. This is what UEFA is advising its elite referees and I quote

** Challenging an opponent for the ball means something more than "making a gesture or movement which, in the opinion of the referee, deceives or distracts an opponent".
Challenging an opponent for the ball now requires:
# physical interference
# being within playing distance (1 metre / 1.5 metres)

The ball is deflected when it changes direction and the player:
# Doesn't move towards the ball
# Finds the ball coming against him and attempts to play it
# Creates an obstacle (Free kick or shot)

Deliberately playing the ball means a deliberate act made by the player.
To identify when a ball is deliberately played:
# A clear movement of the player towards the ball
# It doesn't matter the "quality" of the play'' End quotes
Now is that advice to bring consistency to the implementation of Law 11 in say Champions League games or is it an attempt to interpret Law 11? Without research the vast majority of referees will not see this
I know on other sites it has been argued that what is written in Law 11 plus the advice is all that we have from IFAB which indeed applies to the other Laws as well.
Like many I struggle with some of the advice such as moving towards the ball. The ball can be easily played by standing still or is upwards movement deemed towards the ball?I think that some of the calls that I have seen where offside was reset on the basis of moving towards the ball with limited contact by the defender is very far removed from the spirit of offside and the game.
I personally think that IFAB is going to have to revisit this. Perhaps the easiest solution is to remove gaining an advantage altogether and once there is a touch of any description it is a reset. Certainly takes out any need then for interpretation.