Question Number: 32257

Law 11 - Offside 2/23/2018

RE: Competitive Adult

Tj of Sydney, Nsw Australia asks...

if a goalkeeper throws the ball from his penalty are is it classed as a kick in regards to offside. So if the keeper has a long throw and the attacker stands in an offside position and the keeper throws it and hits him on the chest with no other player touching the ball is that offside. Ive tried to find the ruling but have been unable to find this specific scenario. The only things I can find are punts are offside throw ins are not.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi TJ
It can be a pretty long throw by the goalkeeper. Anyway it is there is Law 11. If one thinks goalkeeper as team mate and a throw is played in the wording then the line ** Offside offence
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..** makes it clear.
So very simply a throw by the goalkeeper is a play by a team mate like a kick such as punt, pass, header etc.
A player in an offside position cannot be offside from a goal kick, throw in or a corner kick or from a ball deliberately played by an opponent which includes the goalkeeper (with the exception of a save).

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi TJ,
There is nothing in the Offside Law about the ball needing to be kicked for offside to be a possibility. In terms of what needs to happen it simply says it requires that ''the ball is played or touched by a team-mate.''

If a keeper throws the ball, it means it was touched by a team mate. Assuming the other criteria are met, it would be an offside offence.

I'm not sure where you're getting your information about the Offside Law but in the Laws of the Game while it does say you can't be offside from a throw-in (or a goal kick or corner kick) it doesn't mention either kicks or punts.