Question Number: 29945

Law 11 - Offside 11/29/2015

RE: Select Under 17

Brad of Plymouth, Michigan United States asks...

I was AR and Green #13 was in an offside position. Ball was passed by green teammate into the air. Green #13 came back to the ball (offside restricted), passing a few defenders. She approached one defender, preparing to play the ball. The defender put out her arm to 'block' the offside-restricted attacker's path.

I raised my flag for offside and my referee saw this and immediately stopped play. I then indicated 'center of field' but he didn't pay attention to my signal (frankly, his overall mechanics were weak, but that is another post...). Referee had misinterpreted my offside flag as a flag for holding on the defender. First, I did not perceive the 'holding' to be anything but a trifling arm out--in fact the moment her arm came up (but before contact) I had already concluded that Green #13 was offside, given that she was impacting play. Green coach objected, arguing that the foul occurred BEFORE offside and insisted on a DFK for his team (which we refused).

Let's presume, for the sake of argument, that there were grounds for a careless hold on the defender. Even in this scenario, I would contend that the moment that Green #13 is close enough to be held by the defender who is playing the ball, then at that point Green #13 is offside and no foul can occur. (Although a misconduct could still be assessed if something was deemed reckless/excessive).

So a 'simultaneous' foul from a defender on an offside-restricted player isn't simultaneous, but is instead FIRST offside (presuming that they are both attempting to play the ball). Is my logic sound? Thank you, as always.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

I agree with your reasoning. Green became involved in play the moment she interfered with an opponent. That happened when the opponent felt it necessary to interact with Green. There would never have been a foul except that Green came back from her offside position.

If the defender's actions were such that they would be worthy of a caution, then she should also be cautioned - we can't let her get away with it simply because there was an offside.

Offside can be interrupted by fouls that happen before there is involvement in play. The classic scenario is when a defender handles a ball that was being passed toward an offside opponent. There is no offside until the intended target plays the ball - and that was interrupted by the handling. I'm sure you can think of other situations where a player, not the intended offside target, is fouled before offside is completed.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Brad
The offside offence happened first when Green #13 got close enough to challenge for the ball. The subsequent foul was by the defender for holding cannot be called as play is already dead once the CR takes the flag.
In this instance the flag should have been pretty obvious given that it was a straight up flag not fluttering and held as offside.
Green coach was entirely wrong and how could the holding offence come first? It is either offside or not first.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Brad,
It is irritating for an AR to have a CR just plain flub a clear signal. Yours was offside misinterpreted for a foul? Flag straight up then lowered to mid facing out on front is a wee bit different than a waving flag back and forth wiggle then pointing the direction of the foul. I had the exact opposite, I flagged for a CLEAR foul and was waved off because the CR thought I was flagging offside? Sigh! At least yours stopped play then with eye contact and some chitchat you straighten the restart out! I had to talk to my CR at the half and it was just pure luck that the shot taken just after the foul had missed or things might have played out different. The deal was the coaches saw the same foul as I did a deliberate handling controlling the ball. They were rather stunned the foul got waved off but I mentioned that if the goal had scored I was going to talk to the CR before any kick off occurred .

I agree it a ORP gets close enough to challenge for a ball within playing distance thus impacting the situation even without the contact offside criteria is met . As for the coach being incorrect I point you to #3 of my 4 step viewing aid, a coach sees what he wants to see!
Cheers