Question Number: 31212

Law 11 - Offside 1/30/2017

RE: premier Adult

Ibrahim ishiaku of lokoja, Kogi Nigeria asks...

1. IF A DEFENDER KICKS A BALL AND THE BALL HITS (REBOUNDS) OF THE REFEREE AND THE BALL GOES BACK TO AN ATTACKER IN AN OFF-SIDE POSITION AND SCORE A GOAL. SHOULD THE GOAL BE ALLOWED OR THE ATTACKER SHOULD BE PENALISED FOR BEEN IN AN OFFSIDE POSITION?
2. IF A PLAYER ON THE FIELD OR OUTSIDE THE FIELD OF PLAY. WHAT SHOULD BE THE REFEREE'S DECISION?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Ibrahim
1. The referee is just part of the field of play and as the last player to touch the ball which was a deliberate play by a defender there cannot be any offside. It is the sane as if the ball was played directly to the attacking player in an offside position by a defender.
Now referees should do as much as they can to ensure that this type of situation does not occur. However should it happen there is nothing the referee can do other than apologise for his positioning. The goal must stand.

2 On your second question I am unsure of your question. If it relates to offside then if the ball hits an opponent before rebounding to an team mate in an offside position then that will be called offside when the offside positioned player interferes with play or an opponent.
If the player is off the field of play as part of a playing movement and moving back then the ball if it has left the field of play the player cannot interfere with play so it a regular restart associated with the ball leaving the field of play. There is nothing wrong with a player staying off the FOP as part of a playing movement to show he is not interfering with play in an offside context but must return immediately the phase is over.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

1. The goal should be allowed - the attacker cannot be penalised for being in an offside position when the ball was not played by a team mate.

2. Unfortunately I can't quite tell what you're asking about so I can't attempt an answer.