Question Number: 29526

Law 11 - Offside 7/10/2015

RE: All

Derek of Cary, IL USA asks...

The attacking team plays a long ball from their own half toward the other goal. A PIOP from near midfield runs toward the ball. AR anticipates that the PIOP will touch the ball and signals for offside. PIOP sees the flag up and stops running without touching the ball. The ball is scooped up by the GK without any trouble.

Should play be stopped for offside? The offside player stopped because of the AR's signal. In my mind the players should not listen to the AR's calls but the CR's instead, therefore offside should be called because he was involved in play, even if he didn't touch the ball. But the ball will go to the other team anyway regardless of offside, so is it worth it to call offside as the CR?

I feel that the answer falls under 'the game is meant to be played with as little interference as possible from the ref.' Therefore I'd let play continue, since the players fixed the error themselves.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Derek,
I tend to agree.
The CR would need to reaffirm and hold off on the whistle as it is his decision! Situational awareness , the CR realizing what is happening, thus waves off the flag.

I have no issues with allowing play to continue! Although another CR might stop play to support your flag. You do suggest the ORP player stopped...BECAUSE ...of the flag. The restart up near midfield? Might be a considered a better restart position if the keeper was weak?

Although it could be the AR was a tad early with the flag, unless there ...WAS... a collision possibility. The AR can ...think.... as the CR might do and realize the keeper is going to get to the ball, advantage applied, once keeper has ball possession works for me. As I always say to players, PLAY THE WHISTLE, the flag is just for me! Yet if my AR flags I am likely to go with it more often then not! That's why the saying, (When in doubt DO NOT WAVE it about!)prevents popping a flag then changing our minds, it could appear indecisive no matter if the reasoning is sound to keep play going
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Derek
The AR is correct to flag if there is a real danger of a collision. Nothing worse than a heavy coming together with offside being the restart particularly if there is an injury or the goalkeeper has acted recklessly in the challenge. Now once the ball is safely in the goalkeepers hands the referee can signal advantage and ask the AR to drop the flag. All nice and tidy.
Now the more difficult one is where there is no danger of collision and a player in an onside position can get to the ball. The flag in that situation is unwarranted and the AR should wait until the PIOP touches the ball which then satisfies the offside condition. Increasingly players look across to the AR and where there is an early flag exclude themselves from play.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Remember this from the I&G portion of the Laws:

'A player in an offside position (A) may be penalised before playing or touching the ball, if, in the opinion of the referee, no other team-mate in an onside position has the opportunity to play the ball.'

[(A) refers to the player in Diagram 4 in the Offside section of I&G.]

This provision would be used to prevent a needless long run when as soon as the player got to the ball offside would be called. That could be what the AR is thinking.

The referee could apply advantage when the ball goes to the keeper. But you said the offside-positioned player ran from near midfield. That means the restart should be back up near midfield (although this doesn't always happen). So is it still an advantage to have the ball in the keeper's hands?

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Play should continue. First, the player in offside position has no infringed the offside law by playing the ball or interfering with an opponent. He is not involved in play simply by moving toward the ball.

Second, even if the player in offside position had done so, the ball is now safely in the hands of the opposing goalkeeper. It is a good application of advantage to allow play to continue; a keeper would always rather have the ball in the hand than have it on the ground, and the game is more entertaining without a stoppage in play.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 29530