Question Number: 29678

Law 11 - Offside 9/9/2015

RE: Amateur Adult

George of Parangarecutirimicuaro, CA Sacratomato asks...

It seems like the more I learn of the beautiful game, the more I realize how little I know which makes me appreciate the panel that much more for lending their time and expertise. I would like to hear from the panel on a couple of situations I witnessed as an AR this past weekend.

On an attack, the defense recovers the ball and is getting ready to kick the ball away down field. One of the attackers from the opposing team jumps into the air and turns his back. The ball bounces off his back and goes in the opposite direction and right in front of another attacker who is still making his way back from the previous attack. Offside? The last person to kick the ball was an opponent.

On another play, there are three different players on the offside position. The defense intercepts the ball. One of the offside players closest to the ball sprints towards the ball from 5-10 yards away. The defender who is aware of the charging forward, hurries his pass and ends kicking it out of bounds. Offside? How far does an offside player have to be before being allowed to charge the ball? I personally thought the offsides players were too far from the ball and saw clear control by the defender.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi George
Thanks for your kind comments
On your first question always remember that Law 11 also states **touches** along with played by one of his team. The answer to your scenarios lies in the last touch which was off an attacker. So when the ball rebounded off the attacker to the PIOP he will be called offside when he interferes with play.
On your second scenario the answer lies in the opinion if the referee. As described it reads to me that there was no offside as the defender had control of the ball with the PIOP having to come from a distance with no challenge. The question that the referee has to answer in these situations is whether the PIOP makes a challenge on the defender. To do that the PIOP has to be in close proximity and to do so before the ball is controlled or very close thereafter. How close is subjective and I would go with your thinking that the PIOP was far from the ball and the defender to interfere so no offside.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi George,

I'm glad to hear you find the site helpful - and I'm glad that you find there's a lot you don't know; there's a lot of wisdom in that, and it's that recognition which drives you to keep growing your game. The moment you think you know everything is the moment you'll stop developing as a referee.

On your first question, I'll echo Ref McHugh's comments. The LOTG says 'touches or is played by one of his team' - Law 11 doesn't say anything about 'kicked'. So, a touch off another body part can still set offside (more commonly is when an attacker heads the ball to a teammate in an offside position). Also, intent is not required at all; the touch from either the 'first' attacker or the one in the offside position can be completely accidental, even unavoidable (if either touch came from a player lying on the ground), and offside would still apply.

The second question is trickier, and it is a judgement call. The challenge really needs to be pretty immediate to be counted as 'interfering with an opponent' - the fact that the defender panicked and made a bad pass isn't really a concern; FIFA have put a lot of effort into ensuring that defenders are not rewarded for poor decisions (such as, moving out of position to mark an attacker in an offside position). So that's not an issue, and the fact that the attacker is moving to challenge isn't enough for the offside. I can't give a specific answer on 'how immediate is immediate'. 5 yards? Possibly, if the attacker is moving pretty quickly. 10 yards would definitely be too far. I think you made the correct decision.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi George,
those here appreciate your kind words!
There is a vast difference being perceived as a know it all and refereeing with self confidence!
Some of it can be the fault of the official, as even with good intentions certain individuals forget knowing a lot and being able to practise the ..art... of refereeing is NOT knowing everything! Far too many supposedly experienced referees believe that they are far better at the job than anyone else, creating a false sense of supremacy and an exaggerated sense of their abilities increasing with age, corrupting the wisdom of experience. These illusory feelings of superiority are reflected in the referee's attitude and composure where those watching the overall performance, perceive arrogance and dictatorial behaviour, instead of the referee radiating confidence, knowledge or conviction.

As an older experienced referee, I try to guard myself of falling into the trap of. 'Listen to me I got all the answers, even as I try hard to impart knowledge and wisdom instead of prattling opinions! I adopt a simple philosophy in that although I care what others think, I rarely worry about it!
Knowing ones' self and trusting to use what you already know with integrity, compassion and courage... Body language and demeanour on and off the field set the tone of perception, even before you utter a single word. The word ART is not a mistake, a good official is able to blend many facets of life into a good performance on the field, just like a conductor of a symphony. The problem that will arise is that not all will enjoy the type of music presented! A referee is not able to command respect without those watching admitting to perceived biases and emotional needs that are in conflict with the neutrality of an official. Perfection is not available as a choice, only as a wish!

(1)Offside POSITION is revisited at every touch/contact a teammate makes with the ball! An unintentional touch of the ball is NO different to set offside position flags into the light than a deliberate touch. This relates to POSITION, not necessarily involvement! Because a deflection or accidental rebound off a defender will not RESET previous offside restrictions of involvement for the attackers even if that touch signals a possible new offside position for the defenders.

That defender kicking the ball creates a NEW positional evaluation for HIS team only and as a deliberate play, it resets the oppositions offside criteria back to none! Up until the ball contacts the back of the jumping attacker, which sounds like a deliberate play, thus resets the defenders' offside phase to none! However, the attackers are now freeze framed for a NEW positional analysis of offside! If the late returning teammates were offside at same time the ball rebounds off his back they are ORP, offside restricted players, and cannot involve themselves in active play.

(2)The impact of a NEARBY ORP attacker who is CLOSE enough to be challenging for the ball where the PIOP is the CAUSE of the situation and not the choice of the defender, will be an opinion on a fact of play, that the CR /ARs need to come to grips with. You have stated in your opinion, the ORP attacker was too far away to IMPACT the situation.

Thus no offside call!

This is crucial because you are also stating the defender is deliberately playing the ball and thus he resets all the opposition ORPs to rejoin open play! Stil,l it is important to remember, a PIOP is NOT allowed to participate in play, and when he unsuccessfully tries, his IMPACT on play could be huge, if he is close to the ball or fast enough to cover the distance to the ball BEFORE it can be easily played by the opposition. I have called offside on PIOPs in pursuit of a ball where they were closing the distance fast enough to prevent an opponent from having a successful, deliberate clearance due to collision possibilities, usually when they were the only attacker in pursuit and the defender was also rushing to get to the ball. One was 20 yds away, with both attacker and defender coming in from an angled distance. I thought the defender was marginally ahead, but there was NO DOUBT, the PIOP was choosing to IMPACT the decision the defender would be forced to make. Now set up a 20 yd distance with the ball at his feet, a defender would not necessarily get an offside call, if a PIOP was running towards him, unless of course, the defender chooses never to touch the ball, if last touched by an attacker, created that PIOP!.

Cheers