Question Number: 31113

Law 11 - Offside 12/14/2016

RE: AYSO intermediate Adult

Greg Kall of Hillsborough, CA US asks...

HI... i agree with the opinions of the refs responding to this question. But, may i interject a variation, and ask comment..

What if ITOTR the GK positioned himself in consideration of the two players in an offside position... such that it put him out of position when the goal was scored?

The definition for interference given by Joe says:
'the players in offside positions do not interfere with play or an opponent in that they do not challenge the goalkeeper nor interfere with line of sight nor touch the ball. '

However, the FIFA guidance says:
"Interfering with an opponent" means:
-Preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball. For example, by clearly obstructing the goalkeepers line of vision or movement.
-Making a gesture or movement which, in the opinion of the referee, deceives or *distracts* an opponent.'

The second merited your consideration. One could argue that the presence of the two attackers in the off side position pulled the GK away from a position he would otherwise have been in were he not distracted by them. Or does 'distracted' have more specific meaning than presence?

Thank you!

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Greg
The laws do not take consideration of what might happen or the poor decision making of players. In addition my colleagues refer to the current wording of Law 11. So the PIOPs have to do a lot more than simply being in an offside position.
An extreme example would be a defender who moves out to cover a player who is in a clear offside position and by doing so leaves unmarked space for an onside player to exploit. That is just a poor defending choice rather than the PIOP doing anything to be called offside.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Greg,
Actually, I think you may be looking at an outdated copy of the Law. The definition of interfering with an opponent has changed and the part about deceiving or distracting an opponent is no longer part of the Laws.

In the 2016-17 edition the nearest equivalent part of the law says as follows:

''preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent's line of vision or challenging an opponent for the ball ...''

Even when the words ''deceives or distracts'' were in the law, the last part of your question about whether distracting requires more than mere presence takes us towards the correct interpretation. My understanding of the intent (based on pronouncements from the IFAB and other authorities) was that the players in an offside position had to do something absolutely overt and in close proximity to the opponent and/or the ball. If they were not clearly, closely and actively involved in the play, the fact that an opponent made a mistaken decision to alter their position based on a player who was not clearly active in the play, was not enough to constitute an offside offence.

In any event, since the words are no longer there, they are not a consideration any more. Indeed, as Ref Dawson suggests, the very reason that the phrase about deceiving or distracting was removed, was apparently to avoid the kind of interpretation that you are suggesting in the first part of your question.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Greg,
no, the portion you quote is an older version of offside law. I can agree it was poorly worded, likely why it was deleted as it creates this myth that presence alone can be a distraction. It was clarified into an actual line of sight and a realistic challenge. The thoughts of defenders play no part in offside decisions only what the offside restricted player actually does that affects play unfairly by being involved in interfering, mere presence is not a valid consideration. Nor do defender choices about what they choose to do or where or why they move to or whom they decide to cover affect our decision. We need to see the OPP do something that according to the LOTG state that he cannot without awarding the INDFK to his opponents.
Newer version of the offside definition
• interfering with an opponent by:
Offside
78
•• preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by
clearly obstructing the opponent's line of vision or
••challenging an opponent for the ball or
•• clearly attempting to play a ball which is close to him when this action
impacts on an opponent or
•• making an obvious action which clearly impacts on the ability of an
opponent to play the ball
or
• gaining an advantage by playing the ball or interfering with an opponent
when it has:
•• rebounded or been deflected off the goalpost, crossbar or an opponent
••been deliberately saved by any opponent
A player in an offside position receiving the ball from an opponent who
deliberately plays the ball (except from a deliberate save by any opponent) is
not considered to have gained an advantage.
A 'save' is when a player stops a ball which is going into or very close to the
goal with any part of the body except the hands (unless the goalkeeper within
the penalty area).