Question Number: 30481

Law 11 - Offside 6/5/2016

RE: Competitive Under 13

Jim Monahan of Milton, Vermont USA asks...

My son's team recently played in their state cup finals and lost 1-0 to a controversial call. Please take a look at this video and give me your opinion on the corner kick which was called offsides.

https://youtu.be/yQOnL3ZyeBk

Thank you

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jim
Well first off there could be no offside from the initial corner kick. So offside could only be from subsequent play. Now it looks from the angle of the video that Green #13 was clearly in an offside position after the corner kick. The question then had to be asked did Green #13 interfere with play or with an opponent on the next play (which could only be the goalkeeper) of the ball forward by Green #17 before the goal was scored. That is a matter of opinion and it is also based on a side on view by the AR who immediately flags for offside. I am unsure from the video angle if the ball touched Green #13 when it was played forward by Green #17 or for that matter was Green #13s movement a clear attempt to play a ball which was close to him when this action impacted on an opponent or did Green #13 make an obvious action which clearly impacted on the ability of the GK to play the ball ? I believe not although I have the benefit of looking at it a few times on video not from an AR position.
Obviously the AR thought it was offside and there is a strong supposition based on position and movement of #13 which is why I believe he flagged for offside. I guess that with no defenders placed on the goal line which is not very frequent the forwards had to be more aware of their positioning from an offside perspective on any subsequent play of the ball by the attackers.
No doubt it was one of many events in the game that either worked for a team or against. This call was made on how it looked to the AR. I am sure there there were many other incidents in the game including player misses, opportunities lost that contributed to the result. Games never hinge on one call.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Jim,

The laws state that there can be no offside directly from a corner kick. What that means is, say Attacker A takes the corner kick. Attacker B then touches the ball. Only after that, if either Attacker A or Attacker C become involved in active play (say, by touching the ball) then offside can be possible.
An offside offence can occur if a player's position is blocking the view of the keeper or preventing a defender from playing the ball - I believe Number 13 is in an offside position when a teammate touches it, but I don't think he is preventing any defender from playing the ball. Under the new LOTG to be introduced in competitions beginning after 1 July, the definition has been expanded to include attackers who camp in an offside position and force the keeper to change how they're approaching the ball - but even under the new Laws I don't see that Number 13 has committed an offside offence after the goalscorer touches it.

I can see that as the ball came in the goalscorer headed the ball first (only after this moment we can consider whether other attackers are committing an offside infringement). I wonder if the AR actually thought Number 13 scored the goal? Sometimes angles can do funny things to what you think you see, especially when there's a crowd with obstructed vision. It may be possible that the AR thought the kick came from a different player (had Number 13 touched the ball he would have committed an offside offence, assuming no defenders off the frame are keeping him onside. Of course, the referee should be aware of scenarios like this when no offside infringement seems possible and converse with the AR to ensure the correct decision.