Question Number: 31230

Law 11 - Offside 2/6/2017

RE: Rec Adult

Russell of Sydney, Australia asks...

Nuances of the new rules.

The Swansea goal scored v Man City had that new element of an offside positioned player that was in a notable location at the time of the shot.

To help us know the difference between goal is good and or not, and using this specific example, what are the factors that support the goal is good decision, and are there any factors that 'might' have us call it the other way.

Fast forward to the 6:15 mark.

http://www.fullmatchesandshows.com/2017/02/05/manchester-city-vs-swansea-city-highlights/

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Russell
The decision rests on whether the presence of the player in an offside position prevented the goalkeeper from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent’s line of vision.
From my viewing of the situation it does not look like it did. The goalkeeper has sight to the ball and he dives to make an attempt to save. The AR will see the PIOP from a side on view and Referee Mike Dean had a view from the best angle to see this. Personally I believe that the PIOP has to be much closer to the GK to interfere with the angle of view.
We know that goalkeepers line of sight always has players, both his own and opponents, between the ball and his goal. Referees and assistant are left to determine when that impeding line of sight exists and how much impact it has to make it actually interfering and therefore unfair.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Russell,
the only factor is the opinion of the match officials as to their line of sight regarding the keeper's line of sight. Based on the distance out and the angle of the shot they decided the keeper was not hindered in the performance of his duties. It is most likely they hold the view if they removed that PIOP from play the result would have been the same.
If the ball had passed in front of the PIOP instead of behind him then perhaps the officials may have decided differently.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Russell,

As my colleagues have pointed out, the issue here is whether the PIOP prevented an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent's line of vision. I would agree with them that he did not. He was off to one side of the ball and did not materially affect the keeper's ability to play the ball.

Incidentally, I'm not quite sure what you classify as 'new' but the particular part of the offside law that applies to this incident has been in place since 2005, when the IFAB first introduced the clarifications of what is meant by interfering with play, interfering with an opponent and gaining an advantage.