Question Number: 30188

Law 11 - Offside 3/10/2016

RE: Level 2 Adult

Waynne of Randburg, Gauteng South Africa asks...

In a offside situation. If a player is in his own half, but his foot is on the halfway line but not in the opponents half, is he offsides. I.e who does the halfway line belong to in an offside situation understanding that you cannot be offside in your own half. Does the halfway line belong to the attackers half or the defenders half?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Waynne
The half way line is unusual in that it is part of both halves. As it can be part of the attackers half then as long as the player does not have part of his body that can legally play the ball such as a foot over the line (on the green part) he is deemed to be in his own half which means that he cannot be offside.
As it is such a tight call it is extremely difficult to get it exactly correct.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Waynne,
Funny thing about the offside line is it ends exactly on the opposite side of the line. So if you are standing in your own half and you lean a playable body part across the line into the opposing half (head or torso) {NOT ARMS!} or your stride takes you where a leg or foot is inside their half you could be adjudged for offside position based on the location of the 2nd last defender. You are safe within the 5 inches of the midline as to being considered inside your own half but do not lean or step forward if you wish not to be considred inside the opposition half.
Cheers

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