Question Number: 16666

Law 11 - Offside 9/12/2007

RE: select Adult

tim block of rochester, mn usa asks...

This question is a follow up to question 16629

When does "slight deflection" become "intentionally played" by a defender. Often a defender intentionally tries to redirect ball with header but does not get sufficient contact to achieve significant redirection and ball continues on to attacker who was in offsides position. I treat this as a deflection and label it offsides as attacker was indeed gaining an advantage. However one could say the defender made an intentional play on the ball. Defender did not gain control but he did make intentional play or attempted to. How do you see it?

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

A good question, Tim! According the Advice to Referees, the defender has to have possession and control - slightly different than attempting to make an intentional play - he has to actually make the play. I quote here from the new 2007 ATR: "11.14 BECOMING "ONSIDE"
A player's offside position must be reevaluated whenever:
1. The ball is again touched or played by a teammate,
2. The ball is played (possessed and controlled, not simply deflected) by an opponent, including the opposing goalkeeper, or 3. The ball goes out of play. "

Basically, we are not going to give someone in an offside position a break because the defender tried to play a ball but failed. That wouldn't be fair, so the criteria is the defendant must actually play the ball. (He doesn't have to play it well or beautifully - just well enough that you can determine he controlled and played it.) Your instincts are correct.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Tim think of it this way, "If I did that did I control it or just deflect it?" If you're a player the answer will pop into focus. It's a funny old Game so the answer is going to be simple...

Regards,