Question Number: 29614

Law 11 - Offside 8/18/2015

RE: Adult

S of Syd, Nsw Aus asks...

Under the new epl offside interpretation so if a offside person runs towards the ball but stops leaves it for onside person or one offside and one offside run towards it is it now offside?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
The referee under the new interpretation has to answer three questions
1 Is the ball close to the player in an offside position?
2. Does the player in an offside position clearly attempt to play the ball?
3. Does the action of the player in an offside position impact on an opponent?
The answer has to be YES to all three before offside can be called.
In the case of onside and offside player running towards the ball nothing has changed there. The onside player will probably impact as much on the opponent as the offside positioned player so we wait until the offside player touches the ball or he interferes with an opponent
In the case of running towards the ball and stopping then the referee has to decide if the three conditions are present in which case offside is called. If the player stops making no effort to play the ball then there is no offside.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi S,
NO! if there is an onside player and a PIOP team mate in ball pursuit, we wait for touch unless the ORP team mate directly impacts the opponents from accessing and playing the ball.
I can point out, a PIOP who stops quickly to force a collision or changes his direction to force an opponent away from the ball in an effort to ensure the on side player gets to the ball first, is an offside offence for interference of an opponent.. Impede, foul ,screen to block etc...

As I often point out we ONLY judge the actions of the defender not the, reactions of the defenders.
I had a situation. onside and PIOP running after the ball, a defender running in pursuit raises their hand pointing at the offside player! Onside player yells to PIOP, 'Your offside drop back!', the PIOP peels away towards the centre of the field and the defender CHOOSES to follow him INSTEAD of continuing pursuing the ball into the corner. There was no offside called, nor was their reason to, the offside player did nothing to impact the defender from challenging for the ball or getting to the ball the PIOP never played the ball! The onside player crosses and the PIOP who had dropped back so he was in behind the ball away from the opposing goal line when the cross occurs had a legitimate shot at goal! Grumbling by the defender but tough his choice to chase a PIOP, rather than the real threat of the onside player and ball!
Cheers

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

See Question: 29627