Question Number: 29793

Law 11 - Offside 10/8/2015

RE: High School Game Adult

Dan Corp of Livonia, MI USA asks...

The offense has a corner kick. The kick is taken and the ball bounces around and ends up at the 18 in front of the net. The defense moves up leaving an offensive player 3 yards out and by the corner of the net in the offside position. Goalie in the middle of net. An offensive player at the 18 kicks the ball toward the corner where the offside player is. As the ball is going toward the corner of the net the offside player tries to kick it on but completely misses the ball and the ball goes in the net. The goalie had no chance to make the play as he was too far from the corner to get to the ball in time. Offensive team wants the goal to count as the offside player did not touch the ball and did not interfer with the goalie. The defensive team wants the goal disallowed as the as attempt by the offside player tried to make a play on the ball. Goal or no goal?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Dan,
The PIOP although NEAR had no impact on play that prevented an opponent from challenging or blocking the line of sight
The PIOP had no impact on play in he did not touch the ball.
Good goal!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

There are three elements to be offside by interfering with an opponent while making a challenge for the ball: (a) near the ball; (b) attempting to play the ball; and (c) this action impacts on an
opponent.

The third element is missing in your scenario. Score the goal.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Dan
Under last years Offside guidance it was certainly not offside as the player did not interfere with play as he did not touch the ball nor did he interfere with an opponent as he did not challenge an opponent nor obstruct the opponents line of sight
Those guideline were amended on the 17th July 2015 which now states that a player in an offside position shall also be penalised if he:
# clearly attempts to play a ball which is close to him when this action IMPACTS on an opponent or
# makes an obvious action which clearly impacts on the ability of an opponent to play the ball.
So in your scenario we have to ask whether the player in an offside position in his attempt to play the ball IMPACTED on an opponent. From what is described that did not happen so the goal is the correct decision.
Had the goalkeeper dived to make a save on the basis of the *attempt* by the PIOP then that has impacted and offside is called.
Have a look at this video as an example
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1awyITp4uQ
Red 10 in an offside position clearly impacts on the goalkeeper and the ball goes to an onside player Red 9 who scores. This should have been called offside due to the actions of Red 10. Under 2014 guidelines it was not offside. Obviously the AR had not moved on or got focussed on the onside players.

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

See Question: 29796