Question Number: 16043

Law 11 - Offside 7/16/2007

RE: Rec Adult

Abdulelah of Khobar, Saudi Arabia asks...

We all saw Copa america final between brazil and argentina,
In messi's goal,
Messi was not offside the moment his team mate shoot towards the goal, but it then deflected from Alex and another argentinian player. Question is: What if the ball only deflected from the defender while messi was offside, would it be still considered an offside?
thanks

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

A DEFLECTION off an opponent will not CHANGE what was already in effect. If Messi was offside he remains offside.
While a deflection off a team mate is considered a NEW last touch of the ball and resets offside position at that new moment.
As it is possible players will move as the ball moves ANY new touch of the ball by a team mate might change a players ability to be reinvolved in active play by no longer being in an offside position or reaffirm his non involvement status as he still remains in an offside position. Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Offside position is checked at each touch of the ball by the attack. Any player in an offside position at that touch may not involve himself in play, no matter where he goes on the park. If a player is not in an offside position when the ball is last touched by the attack he may play the ball no matter where he goes on the park. Deflections by defenders have no bearing on this, either way.

Regards,