Question Number: 32221

Law 11 - Offside 2/8/2018

RE: Adult

Muhammad Rizwan Khan of Abbottabad, KPK Pakistan asks...

Sir,

I just want to confirm that if a attacker kicks the ball towards his teammate who is not in offside position but it deflects with the defender but at that time he's in offside position. Which position of his player accounts. Before deflection when ball was kick or when it was deflected? and other question if same happened but defection is made with his own player then what will be situation?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Muhammad
The moment the ball is played or touched by the players (in an offside position) team mate NOT when it is touched by the defender us the defining moment. The touch by the defender is irrelevant as there is no offside to be considered as the player was in an onside position when it was last played / touched by a team mate.
Point 2 Law 11 refers
* A player in an offside position at the moment the ball is played or touched by a team-mate is only penalised on becoming involved in active play by......*

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Muhammad,
Offside position is judged at the moment the ball is touched by a team mate. Where they are when the ball deflects from an opponent is not relevant to the judgement of offside position.

If the ball deflects off his own player, that is a touch by a team mate, so offside position would be re-assessed at that moment.