Question Number: 31002

Law 11 - Offside 11/6/2016

RE: Select High School

Mike Spivy of Brush Prairie, WA United States asks...

Our league has started calling offside ONLY when the offending player actually touches the ball. They say that is the 'new' interpretation of the FIFA law. I disagree....

In the specific instance tonight a player was clearly in an offside position (probably 5 yards off at least). The ball was kicked down field from his player and he took off after the ball but none of our defenders chased after him since he was so obviously offside. When the player finally touched the ball he was right at the top of the 18 yard box and the AR then raised his flag to signal offside and our team was awarded the free kick from the top of the box instead of 20+ yards further back on the field where he initially took off chasing the ball from an offside position. The AR and Center Ref both argued that the player is NOT offside until he touches the ball. That can't be a correct interpretation of the rule can it? If so, the player should have just kept from touching the ball until it was as close to the goal line as possible since that is where the FK would have been given (which only serves to punish the team defending the offside player. Seems totally wrong to me and that our league's referees have the rule interpretation wrong. Weigh in please??

Answer provided by Referee Joe Manjone

Mike,
Washington is the only state that uses FIFA rules for high school soccer play. Referee's Dawson and Grove are experts on FIFA rules so please refer to their answers. I hope that your team is successful and makes it to the state championships on the 18th and 19th of this month.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Mike,
your consternation and confusion is understandable but not at all unusual nowadays! look to question 30960.
I also should point out that USA high school may not yet have adapted the FIFA changes. Given their rules committee meets after the FIFA/IFAB and just recently altered the following years previous changes. Been tinkering with this offside thing for the last 3 years to get it to this stage! lol

As a Coach I can tell you, it is ALWAYS a bad idea to think standing with raised hand looking for a flag is the epitome of a poor defender. No defender should be looking at the flag to save them, the AR does NOT have the final say, ONLY the referee whistle is the signal to stop playing!
As referee it is also ALWAYS a very bad idea for CR and AR to be seen and heard arguing offside in a pubic venue match.

The LOTG have undergone a very intensive rewrite and offside in particular has been tweaked once again.


Lets examine WHY there is confusion!

The OLD restart point was at the OFFSIDE POSITION.
Under the NEW it is NOW at the OFFSIDE INVOLVEMENT.
An OPP is INVOLVED when he interferes with play by touching /playing the ball or when he interferes with an opponent in some manner.

11.5 Position of FREE KICK page 139 /140
NEW TEXT
If an offside offence occurs, the referee
awards an indirect free kick where
the offence occurred, including if it is
in the player’s own half of the field of
play.
Explanation
The Law and the interpretation were contradictory. Throughout the Laws, the
general principle is that a FK is awarded where an offence occurs so this now
applies to offside. A FK can be awarded in a player’s own half if the player moves from an offside position in the opponents’ half to commit an offside offence in the player’s own half.

Laws of the Game 2016/17 | Practical Guidelines
Page 193
An attacker in an offside position (A), not interfering with an opponent, does
not touch the ball. The player did NOT TOUCH the ball, so CANNOT be penalised.
Page 194
A player in an offside position (A) MAY be penalised before playing or
touching the ball, IF, in the OPINION of the REFEREE, no other team-mate in an onside position has the opportunity to play the ball
.
A TERRIBLE AMBIGIOUS statement seemingly contradicting the above statement but the lone OPP pursuing a ball CAN be flagged by the AR based on the determination of the OPP to reach the ball before ANYONE including his teammates or opponents. The restart? Where he was going to get to the ball. Whereas interference with an opponent can be away from the ball location.

Your point about an opponent CLEARLY being in an offside position. I remind you, the LOTG CLEARLY state, it is NOT an offence to be in an offside position! Quite often what some think is very clear, turns out not to be so clear after all . The OPP (offside positioned player) must interfere with play by touching the ball or interfering with the opponent's ability to get to the ball unimpeded.
In cases where ONLY the OPP is in a position to get to the ball before it can run out of play and there is no other teammate in pursuit or even anywhere near the area it WAS credible to award an INDFK before he actually touched the ball in the interest of saving some time given the restart was coming back up field . In point of fact FIFA still has offside interpretive videos on line showing this and it stated within the LOTG we can award an INDFK if no other onside teammate has a chance but it will either have to be updated or explained a bit better as it will continually create bibles of misinformation given the OPP can stop his run realizing he is restricted before he has truly committed to guarantee he will be the only one playing the ball.

If we are awarding an INDFK based on his run to the ball, then the involvement is where he will TOUCH the ball in the opinion of the AR. So with an early flag the Restart position remains what it would be anyway the approximated contact point i.e. ACTUAL INVOLVEMENT location. Which is WHY we look diligently to see if an opponent is interfered with earlier keeps the restartt up field thus it pays the defence to pursue the offside player!.

For the OPP to be guilty of involvement by interfering with the opponent the defender must be prevented from direct access to the ball. We can immediately award the INDFK at the moment we think the OPP has created a possible collision i.e. the keeper coming over to play the ball or a change in the accessibility of ANY chasing defenders to get to the ball. As in the OPP slowing down, moving to intercept, placing out the arms to shield , causing any change in the defenders run pattern. We award the INDFK prior to any possible physical contact with the players well before the ball could ever be touched. Keep in mind, the exact blade of grass restart for offside historically was pretty generalized as trifling and wide latitudes of discretion were the norm.

The restart location might be a bit further into the defending third given we are too wait until we are entirely certain there is no interference it is also possible for that INDFK to be BACK inside the OPPs own half of the field should he step back into his own half to play a ball ONCE he was restricted. Be very cool to see a goal off an INDFK awarded inside the OPPs own half.

What I have noticed since FIFA HAS altered the offside criteria the smart teams are tactically evolving to use the LOTG to their advantage! It is difficult to set historical precedence aside but think too by pushing the boundaries of how close is close and can we pretend to go but really not go and stop short and allow a late non OPP arrival to streak on by or an OPP to just being in the mix to the side so as to draw attention of opponents but not the wrath of the official? For now all ARs should run with the ball, flag down and if the OPP does anything that might create interference, stop pop flag when it becomes a matter of fact not conjecture.

Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Mike,
What your officials are saying is essentially true. However, if the game is being played under FIFA laws (although you do mention High School) there is one exception.

As stated on page 194 of the LotG 2016-17 (.pdf edition):

''A player in an offside position may be penalised before playing or touching the ball, if, in the opinion of the referee, no other team-mate in an onside position has the opportunity to play the ball.''

In the example you give, and assuming the part about no other team mate having an opportunity to get involved is true, the officials could have chosen to go with an early flag and/or decision.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
When Law 11 was amended a number of years ago a memo had to issue some months later due to unhappiness among ARs about having to wait until the ball was touched before offside was called. The amendment later became part of the advice that a PIOP could be called offside without touching the ball provided no other onside player could play the ball and the only possible outcome was going to be offside. So waiting for the touch is not necessary in all situation yet it can be wise to wait for the touch as much can change in a number of seconds.
So yes the match officials are correct to wait for the touch by the PIOP as then there is no issue about offside. There are a number of examples of early flags without the touch of the ball for onside players to run on to the ball. That should not happen.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=b7Yo8966WLc

Have a look at this video
https://vimeo.com/106949742
When was the correct time to raise the flag for offside? I believe the AR got it right.
Too soon and the ball can go out of play or the offside positioned player gives up her run. So every situation will be different.