Question Number: 31703

Law 11 - Offside 8/14/2017

RE: Under 12

Jonny Gray of Gibraltar , Gibraltar asks...

This question is a follow up to question 31702

Sorry, what about the fact the ball was played into his path by a Liverpool player? Even if he was clearly PIOP the original ball was not meant for him and only inadvertently put in his path via a Liverpool player?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jonny
Only deliberate plays by defenders reset offside and neither does a save. Rebound or deflection do not reset offside. I do not see a deliberate play here by a Liverpool defender only a possible deflection which is not a reset nor was the attempted save by the goalkeeper a reset either of offside.
I believe the offside was not given offside because the player looked level with the ball and therefore not in an offside position. That is the only question of debate not whether the ball was played by a Liverpool player. Had the scorer been seen clearly as ahead of the ball in an offside position then I believe it would have been called correctly as offside.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Jonny,
if you read Law 11 Gaining an advantage does NOT permit a PIOP from participating off a deflection , rebound or a deliberate save by the opponent!

Do not forget the offside law is exempt on the corner kick, if the ball had inadvertently been played by a defender to #3 and not #11, #3 would be fine to play the ball as NOTHING had changed. It was NOT until a new team mate touched the ball after the corner that sets in motion offside possibilities!

#3 was marginally offside at the time #11 shot the ball at the keeper which deflected off the keeper's arm onto the crossbar and down to where #3 headed it into the goal.

The goal was allowed because the CR&AR were likely unaware or UNCERTAIN 3# was PIOP at the time of the shot.

Nothing that occurred leading up to that moment is relevant as the LAST touch of the ball by the team mate sets up the positional restriction which is the shot at the goal as the ball leaves the foot of the shooter. .

And once again a deliberate save by the keeper is looked at the same as rebound or deflection in the attackers who are PIOP are STILL restricted from play.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Jonny,
Looking at Law 11 shows that this fact does not alter the offside equation. The law tells us that offside is only ruled out in situations where the ball is deliberately played by an opponent and that an inadvertent touch or a deliberate save by an opponent have no impact on the offside decision.

It is also irrelevant who the original ball was meant for - the intent of the touch by a team mate plays no part in offside.