Question Number: 34405

Law 11 - Offside 11/2/2021

RE: Adult

Sal of CHICAGO, IL USA asks...

Blue #1 passes the ball toward a teammate (Blue #2) whom is in an offside position, however, Blue #2 stands still and the ball passes between his legs and is picked up by another teammate (Blue #3) whom happened to be onside and he breaks away and scores.
Was Blue #2 guilty of an offside infraction?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Sal
As described it is not offside unless the PIOP Blue #2 met one of the four conditions as outlined in Law 11 which are
A. Preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent’s line of vision or
B. Challenging an opponent for the ball or
C. Clearly attempting to play a ball which is close when this action impacts on an opponent or
D. Making an obvious action which clearly impacts on the ability of an opponent to play the ball.

It is unlikely to be A or B and if an opponent was not impacted by the PIOP letting it pass then it can’t be C or D either so there is no offence.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Sal,
As you are aware being offside position is not an offence he must involve himself in such a way as to touch the ball which he did not, thus no intefering with play. However could he have interfered with an opponet by being where he was and doing what he did?
As outlined the critetia for interference mentioned by my colleague within the LOTG are very specific. Based on your description if we were to remove the PIOP from the FOP if nothing would have changed, chances are there is no INDFK for offside!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Sal,
The way you are describing this, it doesn't sound to me as if there is any offside offence here.

As my colleagues have mentioned, if Blue #2 did not interfere with an opponent in any of the ways specified in Law 11, as quoted by ref McHugh (and there is nothing to indicate he did) then no offside offence would have been committed.