Question Number: 30992

Law 11 - Offside 11/3/2016

RE: select Adult

alex of richmond hill, ontario canada asks...

I was an ar in a match. The attacker made a forward pass and the ball was deflected by a defender to another attacker in an offside position. I raised my flag for an offside which was over ruled by the cr. During half time the cr and the other ar told me that in one of the annual ref training seminar (which I cannot attend), they were told about the new interpretation that if a defender make a move towards the ball then any bouncing off the defender cannot be classified as a deflection. i.e. 'no offside'. Can you comment on this as I cannot find anything on fifa website?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Alex
The answer rests on what is a deflection and what is a deliberate play. There can be a fine line between both and some have tried to provide guidance on same.
Have a look at this chart provided by my association UEFA.
http://www.law-11.com/uploads/2/7/9/0/27904083/8626672_orig.jpg
It provides advice on what are the considerations to differentiate between both. Now as you will note it is not black and white. One could have the situation where a defender moves towards the ball, turns his back and the ball hits him deflecting off the player. That is not a deliberate play even though he moved towards the ball. Conversely a player can deliberately play the ball without moving towards it. For example a player stands his ground, tries to play the ball with a foot and the ball is played albeit poorly is a reset.
Have a look at this video in the series. FIFA opined that it was a deflection and therefore no reset
https://vimeo.com/105999998
Now there is very real danger that what is conveyed in seminars gets lost in implementation. It is not just simply about moving towards the ball. There are other factors to be taken into account. Indeed the panel has debated goals on the basis of whether the plays were deliberate or not. Some instructional videos I have seen on this topic are borderline between deliberate play and deflections.
Whether that all helps I suspect depends on the opinion of the referee on the day. Perhaps it is a topic that should be discussed pre match to understand what the CRs view is. On another day the referee could easily take the offside flag opening that it was indeed a deflection. The test is to be on the same page as an offside flag waved away can cause all sorts if rancour as indeed can a blatant offside be ignored with no flag because it might be a deflection.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Alex ,
as always you raise an interesting dilemma! The direction by FIFA/IFAB, although not in writing is to ensure the ARs are sure when raising the flag and if in doubt it must be kept down. This is the traditional advice in plain speak! 'WHEN IN DOUBT DO NOT WAVE IT ABOUT!'

If you examine what constitutes a deliberate action we look to multiple factors. How much time, space, speed of play, line of sight, the ball movement, players action are they autonomous responses or a calculated tactical effort? Think on what constitutes a deliberate handling offence in how we determine whether the player moved into the ball or if the ball moved into him? To some extent this concept maybe helpful in determining the difference between deflection/rebound or a deliberate action to play the ball.

Given the various debatable decisions that arise over these type of situations it might be best to go over the idea in the pregame of what the CR wants if you believe the OPP is gaining an advantage off a perceived deflection?

However, your passed on statement, ('the new interpretation that if a defender make a move towards the ball then any bouncing off the defender cannot be classified as a deflection.')' is one that is suspect as to whether it is the actual advice FIFA or the IFAB has offered or a TRANSLATION of whatever source their perception is! It is flat out incorrect as a statement of fact! Even the word bounce implies rebound or deflection. It amazes me that so many attribute a player must actually have to move out of the way from the ball just in case it hits him as almost ANY type of touch is seen as something initiated as a deliberate action! SIGH!

I offer you this tidbit as supportive evidence that perhaps some take this DELIBERATE ACTION a tad too seriously when stressing attacking play. There are VALID REASONS they added the gaining advantage exceptions!

THIS QUESTION was ASKED within a FIFA/IFAB referee discussion review panel
Based on the new interpretation of offside would you award this goal claiming the ball WAS deliberately played or are you OK with the officials calling this offside via a deflection?

I think the pass was deliberately a ball destined to the offside player and the defender tried to reach out a leg in close quarters but it bobbled over the toe of the boot is this a deliberate play or a deflection in your opinion?

> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgoRylxkXdw&feature=youtu.be&t=1747

This was USA woman against Columbia score was 6 to 0 at this time it was the USA striker Press she scored a nice final goal later to make it 7 to 0 but this one they called back many of us would have awarded the goal? Are we too harsh or are we right to hold that view?

Response from the discussion panel

Hi, offside is the correct call.
The ball comes to the player and no player will ever get out of the way and let the ball go by, there will always be a motion by the player as that is an instinctive movement. The question is whether it is an action or a reaction. This is a reaction versus a clear action where the player has time, space, goes to the ball, has control of the body, is not reacting and is very deliberate movement to play the ball.


For further information if you read the offside explanation on our main webpage right side you will note this advice

There are 3 exceptions pertaining to gaining an advantage
If the opponent/defender touch of the ball is deemed in the opinion of the officials to be a
(a) - rebound = a ball that bounces back after impacting a hard surface
(b) - deflection = a ball that alters it trajectory or being caused to change direction upon impact
(c) - deliberate save = a ball played with a conscious decision and realization of the consequences of action but is done preventing a goal

These conditions WILL NOT RESET nor change an attacking opponents' restricted offside status! Neither does it alter or change an attacking opponent's ONSIDE status.
-----
A miss kick or poor header is more often a MISTAKE made when choosing to deliberately play the ball!

We do not award offside for a mistake, if it was a DELIBERATE PLAY!

However, the position or movement of the defender's feet or head apparently trying to react does not necessarily mean the ball was deliberately played!

What determines if a mistake is a deliberate play or was it a deflection or a rebound? We hold that when the ball comes to the player, no player will ever get out of the way and let the ball go by, there will always be a motion by the player as that is an instinctive movement. The question is whether it is a deliberate action or a normal reaction.

�DISTANCE: How far away is the ball?
�FLIGHT PATH: Is the ball's direction, or angle altered towards the player?
�SPEED: How fast is that ball moving?
�SPACE: is there room to react?
�TIME: Is there time to prepare?
�IMPACT: Does the ball strike the unaware player, without time to react?

-----
An impact is NOT deliberately playing the ball, nor a mistake, it is either

�{a} rebound which is a ball that bounces back after striking a hard surface or

�{b} deflection which is a ball that alters it trajectory or being caused to change direction upon impact.

Lastly think a bit on this concept a defender with a wide stance is nutmegged by an attacker . Our defender desperately tries to close that five hole and the ball glances off his ankle headed towards an OPP? How is that a deliberate action? It was a reaction of proximity to a ball travelling between his legs at high speed but his skill and reaction time just are not up to the task. So how different is bringing legs together in an instant any different then stretching out to intercept a ball?

The KEYS to understanding here? Is there time to react with purpose given how fast play is moving? You can be standing still and allow a slower ball to roll up on you and still miskick it or have it bobble away . That can NEVER be a deflection too many deliberate factors have proceeded your attempt. You can not chase a ball to wait for it for the same reason. When you have sufficient awareness and control of time space and speed to make a deliberate choice that becomes a deliberate play.

Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Alex,
I feel that the referee in this case has vastly (and ultimately, incorrectly) over-simplified whatever guidance he was given. In determining offside, a distinction must be made between a deliberate play by an opponent and an accidental deflection off an opponent. However there is a lot, lot more to it than simply judging if the player was moving towards the ball.

My colleagues have already given some good advice in this regard. If you look at the list of considerations in the graphic referenced by ref McHugh you will see that the player moving towards the ball is only one of six factors to be considered. Other sets of guidelines might involve even more factors. So reducing the entire decision-making process to just this one factor is not in accordance with any of the sets of guidelines or recommendations that I have seen.

For me, the process is analogous to the way that DOGSO is to be decided. The Laws of the Game list four factors to be considered in deciding whether DOGSO has occurred but you can't just look at one factor and ignore all the others - you have to consider all of the various factors together.

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

See Question: 30993