Question Number: 34109

Law 11 - Offside 1/23/2021

RE: Adult

John of Athens, Greece asks...

https://youtu.be/Zz60dy9lGU4 at 1:47 a goal scored but a player in offside position attempted to play the ball without touching it . The goal was awarded.It is offside or good goal ?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EUyEnDt2fd4

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi John
Thanks for the question
There are two ways in which a player in an offside position can be called offside. One is interfering with play by playing or touching the ball and the 2nd way is by interfering with an opponent.
Law 11 lists four ways that a PIOP can interfere with an opponent and they are
# preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent’s line of vision or
# challenging an opponent for the ball or
# clearly attempting to play a ball which is close when this action impacts on an opponent or
# making an obvious action which clearly impacts on the ability of an opponent to play the ball
From the video we can say that the attacker did not touch the ball so he did not interfere with play. We are left thrn with interfering with an opponent to consider. The PIOP did not challenge an opponent, he did not obstruct an opponent's view and his action did not impact on the ability of an opponent to play the ball. We are then left with the consideration as to whether his attempt to play the ball impacted on an opponent.
To me the attempt to play the ball happened behind the goalkeeper so in my opinion that had no impact on the goalkeeper or for that matter any defender to play or participate in play in which case the goal was good.
Had he touched the ball it would have been called offside or if the attempt to play the ball happened in front of an opponent that would have been called offside as well.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi John,
the fact that a PIOP (player in an office position) has TRIED to touch the ball is irrelevant, he did not, thus, he has NOT interfered with play!
The ONLY determination we have left to make was, in the ATTEMPT to play the ball, did this PIOP inadvertently or deliberately, somehow, INTERFERE with any OPPONENTS' attempt or ability to play the ball? Based on the position & actions of the PIOP, he was not interfering, blocking, or hindering an opponent from doing so, thus a good goal.
Cheers