Question Number: 18806

Law 6 - Assistant Referee 4/17/2008

RE: Major League Soccer Adult

Up the Ultras of San Francisco, CA United States of America asks...

This question is in regards to covering up mistakes as well as the offside rule.

You may have watched the Los Angeles Galaxy's home opener against the San Jose Earthquakes. In the opening 5 minutes somewhere, there was a free kick given in Galaxy's half. Ronnie O'Brien took the free kick, and it bounced (on the ground, not off of Kamara's foot as some have speculated) before being headed in the goal by Ryan Cochrane. The goal was disallowed due to Cochrane being offside.

This being a set piece, usually it is an easier call for the AR. When I am an AR on a set piece, I simply look across the line, follow any movement with my body, and then listen for the sound of the ball being kicked as I watch the line.

It came out later that the AR had been on the field at the time for some reason and was out of position to make the call. It is unclear whose fault it was that the kick was allowed to take place. It was either the AR's fault for being unnecessarily on the field, or the referee's for allowing the kick to take place with his AR out of position. Either way, the AR chose to make a guess and call offside.
http://www.ussoccer-data.com/docfile/LessonsLearnedWeek_2_2008.htm

My real question is: What should have happened after the mistake was made? In my opinion, no call should be made when the AR is out of position, but what do you think? Assuming the play is allowed to continue, does the AR make a guess as to the offside or does he just give the advantage to the attacker and allow the goal?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

It is permissible for an AR to oversee a free kick that occurs in his area of control near a touchline. It is a referee's responsibility though to ok the restart or have instructed his AR to not allow a restart unless he receives thumbs up by the referee. If I as referee am aware of the entry and its reason I am either with the second last defender temporarily or else we are at a whistled or easily understood restart only when my AR is back at the correct position with the second last opponent.
If an AR is at all unsure we are instructed, When in doubt do NOT wave it about! Hearing the ball is good to a point not as easy in a stadium filled with a noisy crowd. As for mistakes they happen and then such things are fodder for discussion to prevent their repeat.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

There is nothing inherently wrong with the AR being on the field. Are you suggesting that being on the field put the AR out of position? Assuming the AR was out of position, it is up to the referee to decide whether or not to accept the flag. Even if the AR was not lined up perfectly, he may have been close enough to properly judge offside. Apparently the AR felt he was close enough as the flag came up.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

During my prematch instructions the assistant is asked to go directly to the kicker and point to me and say wait for the whistle. When he points I hold up my whistle and point to it. The problem is solved then and there. All that remains is when the assistant is ready for the restart of play. That is him standing on the touchline, stopped, with his flag in the correct hand and a thumbs up showing. Only then can I whistle.

As to what should be done, I'll leave that one to the folks who do that sort of thing and not recommend anything from here...

Regards,