Question Number: 17303

Law 17 - Corner Kick 10/14/2007

RE: competitve Under 15

Mike of hatboro, PA USA asks...

On a corner kick if a offensive player lines up with one foot across the goal line and one foot in play are they considered in play. What happens if it hits that person and goes in, goal? I had a coach tell me that if an offensive player has on foot in goal it is offsides but there is no offsides on corner kick. I assume that if a offensive player lines up in the goal (I don't know why they would do this) they would be cautioned for leaving the field without permission, what would the restart be?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Mike ,
Many myths at work here, the goal line is the 5 inch line last determining spot to judge offside whether a player is on it or past it that is as far as we mark the event. If an attacking player was slightly past the goal line as in stepping over and there are two oponents who are in contact with the goal line say their back heel is on that goal line then the offside position could be determined as even.
The attacking player is in fact not offside positioned despite being a bit behind or into the goal.

Now players are required to remain on the field but we allow a bit of leeway in the reasonableness of trying to move around an opponent or through momentume to briefly step off the field. Likely a qucik word stops this. To be forced to caution for leaving the field without permission in this case seems extreme unless the attackers are so obtuse as not to find a warning to desist as reason not to do so. But the action is misconduct USB not offside and a drop ball restart is for the fact the misconduct occurs OFF The field of play.

You are 100% correct offside position is ignored on direct corner kick into the area and a ball striking this attacker going into the goal is not offside as long as no other teammate had the ball touch them after the corner was taken.

AS for players taking a postion inside the netted area if it was apparant like way in there yards in behind as a referee I likely tell them to get out of there. if they were half in half out of the goal, say set up to crowd the keeper into a new position as long as they do not shadow the keeper when the keeper moves to get out from behind it would not be a huge deal but if they continued I would intervene to stop it and could caution for USB. If they set up and tried to box the keeper in or impede him at the actual taking of the corner kick we award an INDFK out!
Remember we are stopped for a corner so we are restarting with a corner even if we could caution for miscondut before the restart. After the corner if the action inside the goal is not offside but in fact USB
Note FIFA Q&A LAW 11
4. An attacking player?s movement takes him between the goal posts
into the goal net and at the same time, a team-mate kicks the ball
into the goal. What action does the referee take if
a) The player who is between the goal posts remains stationary as
the ball enters?
No action should be taken. A goal is awarded.
b) The actions of the player distract an opponent?
The goal is disallowed and the player is cautioned for unsporting
behaviour.
Since the offence was committed off the f eld of play, play is restarted with a dropped ball at the place where it was located when play was stopped*.

Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Mike, why are you listening to coaches? What this coach said is nonsense. There is no offside on a corner kick and if a player has any part of his body on the field he's on the field but so what? During the normal course of play, players may leave the field of play.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Really, Mike! If the corner kick hasn't even happened yet, how can we have offside or a different restart? And, if the attacking player is standing on the goal line (one foot on the field and one off) he is onside if he is the first to receive the corner, because as you correctly noted, there is no offside offense directly from a corner kick. After that initial play, the offside Law is in effect again. The coach was misinformed.