Question Number: 15069

Law 11 - Offside 3/29/2007

RE: comp Adult

mike mcgloin of galway, ireland asks...

i am standing in an offside position from a free kick played into the opposition penalty area, but i am not deemed to be interfering with play as the free kick is played to one of my team mates.i subsequently recieve the ball from the player who was onside on receiving the ball from the original free kick.i put the ball into the net.am i then deemed to be interfering with play as i benefitted from being in an offside position or is the goal allowed

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Mike,
offside is RESET at each NEW touch of the ball!

When your onside TEAMMATE passes the ball to you (last touch of the ball by a teammate) after the free kick where were you?
Hopefully not nearer to your opponents? goal line than both the ball and the second last opponent which was the case at the taking of the free kick

If you were not offside positioned then you are free to participate in play being offside on the free kick previously does NOT carry over! Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

You neglect to tell us the most important thing we need to know to answer your question: were you in offside position when the subsequent player kicked the ball to you? Matters not where you were before that. Also, if you were in offside position at the times of the subsequent pass, you would NOT be penalized for gaining an advantage by being in offside position. You would be penalized for interfering with play.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Once a new teammate touches the ball, then a new decision needs to be made as to whether or not you are in an offside position. Assume that player A, B, and C Thus if player C is in an offside position and player A plays the ball to player B, no call is made as long as player C does not interfere with play or interfere with an opponent. Now as soon as player B touches the ball if player C is now in an onside position, then Player C is free to get involved in play.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Mike the only thing you need to know in this scenario is: am I in an offside position when my colleague last touched the ball.

Regards,