Question Number: 30263

Law 11 - Offside 4/7/2016

RE: Rec & Competitive Under 17

Jack Desemone of El Segundo, CA USA asks...

Regarding Law 11-During the USNWT game against Colombia Christine Presse had a goal called back due to Offside. It is my understanding that if a defender plays the ball the attacker is no longer offside. The defender did make a play on the ball. Why was she still considered offside?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jack
Was there an offside goal called back here?
https://youtu.be/IYaajd5Yf0Q In goal 6 Columbia yellow 11 miskicks the ball to Johnston No 8 USA White who was in an offside position at the moment of the Yellow misplay. She then plays the ball to Long no 23 USA White who scores. The goal is correctly awarded even though No 8 was in an offside position as the ball was deliberately kicked by an opponent albeit poorly and misdirected

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi jack,
I did not see the match so I have no idea why the offside applied for that incident you ask about but the #6 goal is a good example of a mistake (not called a deflection) that offside was reset and the subsequent goal was allowed because the ball was deliberately played by the opponent and it was NOT a save.

If we are to assume that making a play on the ball is ALWAYS a reset that is not correct. In cases where it is a SAVE offside is not reset and if there was insufficient time or space to react it still could be deemed a deflection or rebound. If you can find a video of the Presse offside we might be able to derive a better answer.
Cheers

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