Question Number: 31992

Law 11 - Offside 11/5/2017

Zluvka of Liberec, Czech Republic Czech Republic asks...

My question is about short corner kick offside. The corner kick taker plays the ball to his nearby teammate. The teammate stops the ball to allow the kicker to play the ball again. (This teammate steps with the sole on the ball and then puts his foot off the ball.) When is the decisive moment for assessing the 'longer lasting' touch? (Is it the first touch of the sole or the moment when the sole leaves the ball?)

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Zluvka,
The restriction of a second touch is gone immediately the ball contacts the teammate. A sole on top of the ball is NOT a kick unless it pushes the ball away to start it moving but it is second touch if he stops that ball and leaves it for the corner kicker who can legally play the ball and dribble or cross at his discretion EXCEPT as a NEW touch that sole stop is a NEW offside review of position. The corner kicker COULD be offside depending on the distribution of opposition players at that exact moment of release of the ball by his teammate . The offside exemption was only on the kick from the corner arc.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Zluvka
Let us be clear on this. There cannot be offside from the original kick.
Now if the player who receives the ball stops the ball with his foot for the original kicker who comes from an offside position then offside must apply.
Generally the defending team may put defenders on the goal line at say the posts which puts the kicker in an onside position should he come to get involved in play on a short corner.
Here is one that the AR got wrong
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IUq_lQpT3go

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Zluvka,
Although it's a slightly different scenario, based on the wording of the recent IFAB Circular 11, it could appear the decisive point is the first touch on the ball. This circular states:

''When judging an offside position, the first point of contact of the 'play or touch' of the ball should be used.''

I don't think the ruling had this particular scenario in mind, however.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 32014