Question Number: 30169

Law 11 - Offside 3/3/2016

RE: rec High School

dave of ETNA, CA USA asks...

Your opinion, please, of the free kick goal at 45th minute of Manchester United / Shrewsbury game two Mondays ago...Feb 22?

The Premiere League has already issued guidance that all future rulings in that circumstance should be offside.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Dave,
yup offside for me! Look at our you call it!

MAY 2015 YOU CALL IT Q&A #42 http://asktheref.com/editArticles.asp?pid=56


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wh9bhyqVnAc

http://therepublikofmancunia.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/FullSizeRender5.jpg
free kick incident 2nd goal should have been ruled offside Manchester United / Shrewsbury Feb 22nd
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wh9bhyqVnAc

Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Dave
This is dealt with under Law 11 *interfering with an opponent* which means preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponents line of vision or challenging an opponent for the ball.
The judgement call is whether the forwards obstructed the goalkeepers line of vision here to the ball and one would have to say that there is a possibility. They certainly obstructed before the kick yet it is the moment of the kick that matters. I was able to freeze frame the video at 4.33 the exact moment of the kick viewed from behind and the three PIOPs do not appear to be in direct line but rather two defenders are. That is a judgement call. The referee has stood directly behind the ball so he had a direct line view of the ball and GK. I understand he was asked before the game if it was okay to stand in that position before the kick?
http://therepublikofmancunia.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/FullSizeRender5.jpg
I personally think it is for these very instances that the law exists. Whether the FA can issue an opinion is questionable as it is always incident specific and in the opinion of the referee. If the PIOPs get back beyond the offside line at the moment of the kick or sufficiently to the side then it is not interfering.