Question Number: 33176

Law 11 - Offside 3/23/2019

RE: Pro Adult

Samba Muleya of Choma, Southern Zambia asks...

Does an injured defending player lying on the ground play an attacking player onside ?

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Samba,
The law does not specifically address the question of a defender in a position on the field to affect an offside decision, being injured. I believe the most common decision here is to count the player for the purposes of offside, even if they are injured.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Samba,
The offside law is very black-and-white around this. It doesn't matter if a player is on the ground injured - they're still counted. Incidentally, if an attacker was lying on the ground injured in an offside position and was struck by the ball after it was played by a teammate, you would award the free kick for the offside infringement. So, it goes both ways.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Samba
Yes unfortunately the player has to be factored in on the offside calculation. Otherwise a player out of position playing opponents onside could lay down *injured* or for that matter stay down while out of position.
The astute referee though, depending on the situation, will decide if the injury is serious or not. If it is serious or potential to be serious he will stop the game to deal with the injury. The matter does not then arise. I would also say that a defender down injured may be in the way of subsequent play and that can be a danger to the player. In that case the safe decision is to stop play.
Have a look at this video
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ePFjXxbJdz0
Note the Blue player behind the goal line. That Blue injured defender was factored into the offside calculation as he is placed on the goal line for offside purposes.
In those instances alone where a defending player has left the field of play without the referees permission the player will be considered to be on the goal line or touchline for the purposes of offside UNTIL the next stoppage in play or until the defending team has played the ball towards the halfway line and it is outside their penalty area.
In those instances alone the Blue defender would not be factored into offside calculation while injured off the field if play and the ball has been cleared away towards half way.
Under that new law change the Orange scorer would still be onside due to the ball not being cleared away towards half way.

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

See Question: 33181