Question Number: 17428

Law 11 - Offside 10/21/2007

RE: competitive College

SANDILE MAMBA of Mbabane, Hhohho Swaziland asks...

1. What is the ruling if one defender tries clearing the ball up-field but it swings backwards to his goal. An offside-positioned striker pounces on the ball and scores. Is there an offside because there's that belief that a back pass is never ruled offside?

2. Is there an offside from a dead ball? Or should I say when the ball is restarted from a goal-kick.

3. IF A GOALKEEPER from a goal kick passes the ball for a team-mate who plays it before it's outside the 18 area. Is it an indirect kick to the opposition or a retake is ordered.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The ruling is found in Law 11: offside position is judged at the moment the ball is touched or played by one of the offside player's own team. This has clearly not happened here.

Law 11 also affords there is no offside offence when the ball is received directly from goal kick or a corner kick or a throw-in.

Law 13 affords any free kick taken within a player's penalty is not in play until it is kicked directly beyond the penalty area into the outfield.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

1) Goal. A player in offside position is not prohibited from playing a ball last played by the defense - unless the ball played by the defender was not really played but a desperation attempt, more of a deflection of a ball from the offside player's teammate. In that case, and in that case only, a determination of offside offense could be made. 2) Offside is not possible if the ball is received directly from a corner kick, goal kick or throw-in. So, no, there is no offside from a goal kick against the player who plays it first. 3) The ball is not in play until it leaves the penalty area from the first kick. If it is touched on the way out, it is a retake of the goal kick. This is also true of any free kick taken by the defense from within their own penalty area.