Question Number: 17312

Law 11 - Offside 10/14/2007

RE: Adult

DC of Auburn, usa asks...

Player A is in offsides position, realizes this and stops moving. Player A is still in offsides position but is not interfering in the play. Player B passes the ball over the defensive line so Player C who is onsides and runs past the defensive line can collect the ball and shoot on net. The referee blows the whistle and says that player A is offsides and awards the defensive team the ball. Is this a judgement call by the referee or the correct call?

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

I don't understand your question. Is there something to imply that a judgment call is somehow incorrect?

If the referee felt that player A interfered with an opponent, or otherwise became involved in active play then the referee would be correct. If he did not observe any of those things, then he would have been incorrect. So its up to the referee's judgment which is final.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

DC,
The referee's opinion rules, player A, despite your view he was not involved was deemed as involved in some manner.

All offside criteria is fairly straightforward however, without seeing the situation we can not comment on what the referee thought nor know why he choose to see things as he did.

Your premise that simply being in an offside position as not a reason to call offside is correct..
You also mention the offside positioned player was NOT interfering with ANY opponent that to, if seen as that way by a referee is a correct reason for not calling an offside positioned player offside.
If player A was truly not involved up until the point player B last hit the ball into the path of player C
Where was player A when player C shot?
Could player A have become involved by say playing a rebound?

If the referee only chooses to see offside position as a reason to make the call well hopefully he gets some training to rectify that view!
One last thing lose the (S) 0n offside
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Are you saying the referee said that Player A was being penalized for just being in offside position? If he did, this is wrong. On the other hand, it is likely the referee felt Player A in offside position had somehow interferred with play.