Question Number: 30993

Law 11 - Offside 11/4/2016

RE: Intermediate Under 14

Phil of Tarzana, CA United States asks...

This question is a follow up to question 30992

In the link cited by referee McHugh, https://vimeo.com/105999998
there are 2 different offside calls to consider.

The second one at 21-22 seconds, I can certainly see as a deflection...attacker kicks the ball at a defender who's about a foot away. But the first one at 07-08 seconds, sure seems like a deliberate play that was simply miskicked. It also doesn't appear to be a deliberate save because the ball was curving away from the net.

Why would this first one not be a reset? As usual, thanks for a great site.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Phil,
Think a moment,
the defender's line of sight? Note the blue player in front of the defender? Then the dummy by the blue player as he steps to the side? See the two red players cutting in from each side? Consider how fast the ball was moving and the short space for the ball to get to the red defender once the blue player decided NOT to attempt to play the ball . How fast the ball was moving and the fact the ball was directed right between his legs or there about. A reaction, not a deliberate set and control and kick or jump but an irregular wave of the leg at a ball suddenly upon him. It was WHY we were adamant that within the previous questioner the information relayed to him by his colleagues was too broad a brush to paint offside deliberate play as a bounce off a movement.

Think on the response I received from a top flight FIFA referee off the IFAB recommendation panel who recommends the changes to the LOTG. Given how CAREFULLY worded the answer was regarding this video which is even a greater stretch, you can grasp the meaning of WHY they still provide substance to the inclusion of gaining an advantage and why a deflection does NOT reset.

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

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 a very deliberate movement to play the ball.

In every contentious decision where opinions are the basis of fact the CR that day is in charge of those facts no matter anyone else's opinion. Even here on our esteemed dedicated knowledgeable panel, with a decent a command of the LOTG as most, we argue amongst ourselves, this is or that was not on certain situations which highlights the difficulty of getting every decision correct no matter how much you think you know. We learn all the time, we try to befit from the mistakes of others and offer our experienced mistakes as a tool to benefit others. It is due to gentlemen such as yourself that express keen interest and insight that drive the passion and the fingers to type away in response.
So thank you as well.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Phil
Yes this one has caused quite a bit of debate. It was shown by FIFA as a deflection and therefore not a reset. It does highlight the difficulty for referees in this area in determining what is a deliberate play and what is a deflection. Obviously it is in the opinion of the referee on the day and the AR called it as offside.
I personally think that there there is more of a deflection in it than a deliberate play