Question Number: 17154

Law 11 - Offside 10/7/2007

RE: Competitive Adult

Lewis Goldstein of Orlando, FL USA asks...

The Keeper comes out to the corner of the 18 to challenge a striker, and knocks the ball only a few yards upfield. Another offensive player chips the ball into the box, where his teammate heads in into the goal. There is only 1 defender between the scorer and the goal when the ball is played (as the keeper is now running back into position and no other defender was that deep). Offsides and no goal was called. Is this correct?

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Let me see if I have this straight: the GK comes out to the outer corner of the penalty area, kicks or otherwise gets the ball upfield but unfortunately to an attacker. The attacker A chips the ball up into the penalty area to a teammate B who was behind the second to last opponent (GK) at the moment his teammate A chipped the ball, and this guy B then heads the ball into the goal. Offside position moved to offside the moment B made a play for the ball. Whistle, indirect free kick for the GK's team from where the player B tried to head the ball. No goal. Right you are!

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

If the forward is in an offside position when the ball is touched or played by his team mate then yes there should be an offside offence given. I'll be willing to wager the coach thought otherwise... Tell him it's a no-brainer. He probably thinks in terms of the second last defender instead of second last opponent as Law 11 does. Assistant referees are told to be at the last but one defender and that is valid right up till the time the last but one opponent just happens to be a forward or a goalkeeper. Then they are lost! Last but one opponent, for it is written.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Lewis, get in the habit of using "opponent" instead of "defender" and this becomes crystal clear. Offside. No goal.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Lewis,
We will assume when you say played that it is the chip not the head action correct?
If so, offside positioned attacker cannot participate easy offside INDFK out.

The keeper is usually the last opponent back by nature of position but in active play remember ANY two opponents not keeper and one other
I just want to dance a bit here and state that as the keeper comes out and the ball is chipped the attacking player could be running by the second last opponent (keeper) and be in a position to receive the ball when it comes down and thus look offside positioned with only one opponent in front and closer to the opposing goal line but was onside when he ran by the keeper as the chip was not yet in the air.
Players and the ball move after positional evaluation occurs so that onside players look offside receiving a ball and offside restricted players appear onside receiving a ball.

The easy calls are offside position and offside involvement all occur with the player still offside positioned through the active sequence of developing play. When it is close and players move forward to trap and opposing players scramble past each other at full sprint involvement positions can be very different from the positional evaluation a while back!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Sounds like it was the correct call. If the attacker that scored was closer to the goal line than the second last defender (keeper counts as defender), then it is offside.