Question Number: 30939

Law 11 - Offside 10/23/2016

RE: Rec Adult

Russell of Sydney, Australia asks...

A question around line of sight while in an offside position.

In the recent Liverpool v WBA match " http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2016/10/23/mane-and-coutinho-net-liverpool-win
the WBA goal was bit of a scramble, and i wonder how close to a 'line of sight while in an offside position' infraction it was.

The goal scorer has a supporting player closer up flled to the keeper than the ball was, and appears to move across the line between the goalscorer and the keeper. Certainly all seem unintentional as the move, meant by the supporting attacker was probably all about getting out of the way, then trying to make a life difficult for the keeper.

Still, keep to hear the panels thoughts on what it would have taken for it to become an issue and rule out the goal.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Russell
That certainly could have been called offside for line of sight as the player in an offside position was stood directly in front of the goalkeeper. The player also had to avoid the ball.
The challenge on those line of sight offsides are
A. From a side on view can the AR determine line of sight clearly?
B. The goalkeeper may not in fact have his line of sight compromised by the PIOP.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Russell,
the OPP looked like a factor to me thus offside and an INDFK out would not be an incorrect call in my opinion. Obviously in the opinion of the AR and CR in that match they felt he was off to the side sufficiently that the keeper was not blocked but they do not have the luxury or the inherent biases of watching slow motion multi angle views
Cheers

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 30954