Question Number: 31223

Law 11 - Offside 2/3/2017

RE: Adult

DENNIS HAW of ST.HELENS, Please select United Kingdom asks...

Is the player scoring the goal in an offside position when the ball is passed to him in the penalty area.
The last defender, apart from the goal keeper, is behind both the passer and the goal scorer when the ball is passed forward to the goal scorer by the passer.
See attached video, which should be viewed from 2.11 minutes and stopped at 2.17 minutes and thereafter to see what I'm getting at.
If the goal scorer isn't offside, why not?
http://sport.bt.com/highlights-west-ham-0-4-manchester-city-91364144052230

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Dennis,
at first I was not seeing anything in the video link you gave so I watched all the highlights on YouTube and I think you are referring to the 3rd goal by Jesus from Rahim Sterling.
The through ball that Rahim Sterling ran onto it looked as if Jesus might have been a tad closer in behind the 2nd last defender but because he did not play the ball that was discounted as Rahim Sterling was most definitely onside. The square pass across is what I believe you are querying about as they were by that time both in behind the 2nd last defender on a two on one break against the keeper. The fact is Rahim Sterling was the team mate making the pass. At the time of the pass Jesus was FARTHER away then the ball from the goal line when Rahim Sterling sent it over. As that was the last touch the offside position WAS evaluated and there was NO offside position BECAUSE the goal scorer Jesus was BEHIND the ball.
IF he had been in front of the ball THEN there would be an offside position and THEN the goal would not be permitted, BECAUSE Jesus would be offside positioned thus restricted from involvement! Offside is judged by position in relation to the 2nd last opponent AND the ball itself.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Dennis
Thanks for your question.
Let us begin with the opening line of Law 11. *It is not an offence to be in an offside position.*
So the player in an offside position has to do something more which is playing the ball or interfering with an opponent.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IW4w8A_npkY
In this goal there is no offside. I believe the West Ham right back Claret#22 Byram plays all the players onside and on the final pass the scorer Blue#33 Jesus is behind the ball at the moment of the pass from Blue #7 Sterling so he is in a clear onside position at the moment of the pass. It makes no difference the location where he finally plays the ball and the direction of the pass is irrelevant.
To mix this up a bit further. Let us say just say that Blue#33 Jesus was in an offside position (which he was not) on the original through pass by Blue #19 Sane. Blue #33 does not play the ball nor does he interfere with an opponent so he cannot be called offside. He in fact ignores the ball as it goes to Blue#7 Sterling who runs on to the ball from a clear onside position so play would be correctly allowed to continue. That collection of the ball by Blue #7 Sterling begins a new phase of play so Blue #33 Jesus can get involved in subsequent play again and as he stay behind the ball he is in an onside position so he is able to score.
So for me good decision making by the assistant referee on this. The only errors here is in the defending including losing the ball in a dangerous position and defenders playing players onside.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Dennis,
My colleagues have already correctly answered your question so let me just comment on one aspect that I suspect might have something to do with your apparent puzzlement. You say, ''the ball is passed forward to the goal scorer by the passer.'' However, the direction that the ball travels is not relevant. All that matters is the scorer's position relative to the ball or the second-last defender.

It's kind of the reverse of a common misconception which holds that a player cannot be offside if the ball is played backwards by a team mate. This is also not true. If the player was in an offside position when the team mate played the ball and then himself, runs back to collect it, it is still an offside offence.

This is most commonly seen as part of a 'short corner' routine. The corner taker plays the ball to a team mate standing close by - that player plays the ball slightly further infield and slightly backwards towards their own goal. The corner taker then runs around the back of the team mate to play the ball. Assuming the corner taker was in an offside position when the team mate played it backwards, an offside offence was still committed, even though the ball was played in a backwards direction.