Question Number: 31025

Law 11 - Offside 11/15/2016

RE: premier Adult

IBRAHIM ISHIAKU of lokoja, kogi Nigeria asks...

Good day everybody. My question goes like this. An attacker in injured an lying on the ground, he is d last player next to the goalkeeper and a ball was passed to his direction, however the ball touched d injured player while still on d ground. Can that injured player on the ground be penalise for been in an off-side position?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Ibrahim,
Yes
if the attacker is in an offside position and the ball touches him, even accidently, the offside criteria is activated. INDFK out! If the injury was deemed serious the referee is required to stop immediately but if the player is simply on the ground nursing a sore ankle or slightly winded he is still a on field player and subject to the LOTG . The injury stoppage is at the discretion of the referee, whereas the actual TOUCHING of the ball by the OPP (offside positioned player)fulfills offside involvement criteria.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Ibrahim
The answer is yes. Even inadvertent touches by a player are considered for offside. So in the case of an injury once the ball touches the player in an offside position the offside criteria is met. The restart is an IDFK.
An extreme example would be an injured player lying in front of goal and a shot that is going wide deflects of the PIOP going into the goal. That is offside and the goal is disallowed.
the other point is that if a player is injured and down on the ground close to play or potential play the referee has to consider the safety of the player. It would be best to stop play to deal with the injury and have the player removed.