Question Number: 31886

Law 11 - Offside 10/10/2017

RE: Under 17

Jordan Jackson of Sydney, NSW Australia asks...

Quick question, if ball hits ref and is received by player in offside position, is it offside?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jordan
Yes that is offside. the referee is just part of the field of play and the touch off the referee changes nothing. If it was offside without the touch it is still offside with it.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Jordan,
offside criteria is NOT reset if the ball strikes a referee he is a moving flag post and what was stays the same!

If the PIOP receives the ball off the referee via a teammate's last touch, a deliberate save from an opponent or series of deflections or rebounds off defender or posts or crossbar he will STILL be guilty of gaining an advantage or interfering with play .
However if the ball is deliberately played by an opponent off the referee then the PIOP was already released from his restriction and COULD legally play the ball.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Jordan,
Firstly, it is important to realise that the ball touching the referee has no effect whatsoever on the determination of an offside offence. It also doesn't matter where the player was when receiving the ball, only where they were when the ball last touched a team mate. But if the criteria for an offside offence are met, the player would be offside.

Assuming the player was in an offside position when the ball was last touched by a team mate and then became involved in active play, an offside offence would have occurred. It is not possible to be sure from your description as it does not contain sufficient information as to the circumstances before the ball hit the referee.