Question Number: 35163

Law 11 - Offside 10/17/2023

RE: Elite Under 16

Chester of Fairfield, Ct USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 35158

So if the referee waits to determine if the an early whistle for offside is warranted, should we restart with the defensive IDFK deeper...maybe 20 or 30 yards into the defensive half even though the AR is standing up by the half way line with the flag raised? I appreciate that the AR should have been running with the ball or the 2nd to last defender down the touch line, but with amateur games you don't always get what you hoped for.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Chester
In the scheme of things it can all depend on events.
I watched a game recently where the referee waited to see if the PIOP touched the ball and then he blew for offside. The defending team wanted to take a quick free kick from that location of where the PIOP touched the ball which was correct yet the referee erroneously made them take it from the original offside location. Not only did he prevent play restarting quickly but also from the wrong location! Old habits die hard.
The referee did not have ARs so perhaps if an AR did not move after the ball he might be seen to be correct.
The book answer is that the IDFK taken from where the offence occurred and in the absence of a referee taking the early flag it should be at that location not from where the AR is located. ARs should try to ensure both are the same where possible. In the possibility of a collision the early flag and whistle is advisable if not even essential.
For what’s its worth many players still think offside position rather than the location of the offence that is the 2nd part, the touch of the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Chester,
lol tis true we get is often not what we expect but I like to be pleasantly surprised by those who give a good effort no matter the caliber of the match . I personally request my ARS or if an AR to follow the UNTIL certain beyond a shadow of a doubt then pop the flag pretty near where the contact COULD have occurred. As I stated earlier it is not a blade of grass restart but 30 yards is indeed 30 yards.
Cheers