Question Number: 15742

Law 11 - Offside 6/10/2007

RE: Rec Adult

Andy Smith of Pacifica, CA USA asks...

Defender 1 clears the ball and moves up the field, leaving Attacker 1 in offside position. Ball lands in the middle of the field amidst a bunch of players. A lot of pinballing, then the ball squirts out back toward D1. He clears again, only to hit his teammate, where the ball now bounces over D1 and to A1, who scores. Is it offside or goal?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

How could this possibly be offside? The ball was played by two OPPONENTS to a player in offside position. Offside is only judged when the ball is played or touched by a teammate.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Andy,
most likely NO offside! A deflection off an opponent will not save an offside positioned player BUT in this case a defending opponent last touched kicked played with control the ball before it hit another defender so no offside is possible
However<
in the pinballing effect if a teammate of the offside attacker had the ball last touch him to exiting the pack just prior to the defender trying to reclear it is remotely possible offside position was established . The clearance by the defender if it was a deflection where he took a swipe at a ball and no real control or posession was established a 2nd deflection off anothe defender will not reset the offside and there is the remote offside I hinted at!
Cheers