Question Number: 31349

Law 11 - Offside 3/15/2017

RE: Rec Adult

russell of Sydney, Australia asks...

How on earth can this not be offside !!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MglvVHW9Hg

But wait...

https://streamable.com/pviqs

Inspiring.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Russell,
great clip thanks
I could see the CR windmilling the arm to keep the play going and for the AR to drop the flag but a great example of why offside decisions require the combined eyesight of all the officials. Because of the way you presented the question I could see the white player kick the ball right at the start . I do not know if I would have assumed it was played forward by red. lol Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Russell
Great decision by the referee. The ball is clearly played by White so it cannot be offside.
What it points to is
1. Ultimately it is the referees decision and play to the whistle.
2. The flag by the AR is conveying an opinion not a decision. Far too often CRs take offside flags and abdicate total responsibility for offside.
I showed a similar example of this type of situation and unfortunately players get irate when the flag goes up as some stop playing thinking the offside will be called.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2abds-p-57E&t=3m25s
Again the referee was 100% correct in that the ball was PLAYED by Green to Blue so it could not be offside. I doubt if Blue was in an offside position but that is another matter.