Question Number: 30076

Law 11 - Offside 2/3/2016

RE: Intermediate Under 13

Phil of Tarzana, CA United States asks...

This question is a follow up to question 29474

This is a Follow Up Question to Q# 29474

Thanks for all the explanations. I looked at all the videos. In the second goal (CLB vs. PHI) at http://www.proreferees.com/news-play-of-the-week---2014---wk33.php, it sure looked to me that the play by the defender (#21) was a deliberate save. There are 3 players from left to right: the defender #21, the GK, & the PIOP. The ball is crossed by an attacker to another attacker, who is in an onside position. He takes a shot on the goal, which is about to enter the goal. #21 miskicks it from about 2 feet in front of the goal (it would have otherwise gone into the goal) directly to PIOP, who scores. The explanation is that it is a deliberate kick (which it is) However, I don't see how that isn't a deliberate save. It would then be an offside infraction & not be a goal.

Thanks again,

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Phil,

Each time they tweak the offside LOTG the new interpretive decisions at times fall short this was one of them in my opinion.

The IFAB and FIFA did a review of the pro ref videos I believe they found a few to be suspect & not correctly identified this was one of them

I hold this was offside as a deflection not a deliberate save
http://www.proreferees.com/news-play-of-the-week---2014---wk33.php


review here

http://www.proreferees.com/news-pro-training-camp--offside-discussions.php
&
http://www.law-11.com/untitled/confusion-caused-by-uefa-ifab-not-agreeing-on-law-11

Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Phil
As you know Offside Law 11 is a judgement call. Efforts have been made to describe what is meant by a save, deflection etc. that is still not universally clear. My view is that in the lower levels of the game allowance has to be made for skill levels etc and I would contend that in my games both these would be called offside for a deflection and a save.
Sometimes we just gave to make a call that is genuinely expected rather than being highly technical with arguments that it was not a deflection or a save. I feel that there is significant doubt that one was a deliberate play and that the other was not a save. Other haver shared that doubt while others have endeavoured to support the decisions.