Question Number: 17981

Law 11 - Offside 11/22/2007

Bill Sayre of Greenwood, SC USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 17920

RE: 17920

I have a follow up question regarding a player in an offside position following the ball downfield. When a defender does take possession, at what point could the attacker turn and challenge for the ball?

It would seem unfair for the attacker to immediately challenge, even if the defender has control of the ball at that moment, since the defender would otherwise have time and space to play forward if the attacker were not close by. Is this a "rule of thumb", or is there any ATR or other source of guidance?

Thanks for the advice, and happy holidays!

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

An immediate challenge is unfair! US Soccer has offered this for referees to think about regarding offside players getting involved: playing the ball doesn't necessarily establish control sufficient to allow an offside player to get involved. What they have said: control is established when the player is able to play the ball again. So if an offside opponent is close enough to interfere with the process of establishing control he has interfered with the opponent in the sense Law 11 prohibits.

Regards,