Question Number: 19040

Law 11 - Offside 5/9/2008

RE: Under 18

MK of Houston, TX USA asks...

Question on Offside: I was watching a game the other day and on an counter attack the Offesive Striker(A1) got the ball (on side)and driblled through the defense line. The GK came forward close to the edge of the penalty area but failed to stop him. A1 went passed the GK to the right and passed the ball to A2( second striker) as he was losing control. Looked like A2 was ahead of A1 at that point- they were both behind the GK and there was no defensive players in between them and the goal line. A2 was running behind A1 but after passing the GK somehow was not parallel to A1 rather was ahead of the ball and the ref called it an offside! I understand the rules of having at least 2 opposing players but does it apply to a situation when you do not have anybody from the defending team as stated?
Any exception to the general offside rule when you went pass all the defenders?

Cheers,

mk

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

This does not deal with any exceptions. You need to know what Law 11 Offside says about offside position. A player is in offside position if he is in the attacking half of the field, and nearer the opponent's goal than both the next to last opponent AND THE BALL. Fans in America tend to not know the importance of the position of the ball when considering offside. In your example, A2 is clearly closer to the opponent's goal than both the next to last opponent and the ball. He is, therefore, in offside position at the moment the ball is played by A1. So he may not participate in play. Conversely, if a player is even with or behind the ball, he can NEVER be offside regardless of how many opponent's there are in the play.

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Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

The key is when inside the opposition's half and there are NO 2nd last opponents to deal with, it is the BALL location relative to the player position.
That ball is about a foot across and no part of the receiving player's playable body parts can be ahead of that mass at the moment the offside position is evaluated.

In your scenario if the 2nd team mate receiving the ball was NEARER to the opposing goal line than the ball at the LAST touch of the ball by the 1st player passing the ball the offside positional criteria are realized, the involvement restrictions are then in place. Thus INDFK for the offside offence will occur if that offside restricted player is interfering with play, interfering with an opponent or gaining an advantage.

It often is difficult for a trailing player to stay in behind until the pass is made to run onto because often the passer slows slightly just before the pass is made.

It is important though for an AR or referee to note the ball is often out ahead of the passer and as an extended leg kicks the ball away the receiving player can look to be slightly ahead of the passer but still be even or slightly behind the ball. It is ok to run on ahead to get the ball if you were even or behind the ball at the time of the pass.

Unfortunately the timing is only seen clearly by a focused AR, often a single referee sees this from a poor position looking downfield not across. Too many still prefer a dodgy offside to a dodgy goal despite the AR motto "when in doubt do not wave it about!"

Cheers



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