Question Number: 22502

Law 11 - Offside 11/12/2009

Scud of Baghdad, Iraq asks...

This question is a follow up to question 22474

I'm sorry if I didnt make my self clear but here is easier way to understand my question:

Imagine:

Attack team: ABCD
Defend team: wxyz

player A near the side line prepare to shoot.

Players gathering inside the penality box according to this order: Far from goal>Near to Goal: w>B>C>y>D>z

Player A shoots the ball and players order is: w>B>C>y>D>z

Ball in the air, player D (attacker) moves toward goal and the players order becomes: w>B>C>y>z>D

The ball arrives on the head of the player B who sends it toward the goal with scoring intention, BUT player D finishes it into the net.

The confusion comes when some see player D is not offside coz he was clear when the ball shot by his mate A.

Others say no, he is offside because the header of his mate B considered as new play.

I hope i made it clear.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Scud
Thanks for clarifying who is involved here in this scenario and their positions
Yes this is most definitely offside as when Player B plays the ball Player D was in an offside position and when D touched the ball he should be called offside. The ball played by Player A is irrelevant as a new phase of play has begun with the header by Player B.
The only way this would not be offside if Player B scores directly from his header and Player D has not interfered with an opponent.

Your focus on the shot by Player A is misplaced as the touch by Player B creates a whole new offside scenario. Think about it? Would you consider how Player A got the ball in determining if Player B was offside? Of course not so it is a chain of touches and each touch sets a new offside situation, a new phase of play each time it is played by a team mate.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

D is offside positioned when B retouches the ball thus INDFK out for offside because D was involved during the time he was restricted!
New circumstances for offside criteria occur on EVERY Touch of the ball for the team that TOUCHES the ball!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

When Player A shoots the ball, and I am assuming that Player A is farther from the goal than his teammates, B and C are onside and D is, assuming there are no other players involved in your scenario except the ones you list.
The ball goes to Player B who was onside when the ball was played so no offside here.
Player B now plays the ball so the entire offside situation starts over. According to you, at the moment Player B plays the ball, Player D is in offside position so he may not play the ball legally. Player D heads the ball into the net. Since he was in offside position when the ball was played by player D he is guilty of interfering with play hence offside and no goal.

I'm not sure why anyone would be confused by this. EVERY time an attacking player plays or touches the ball, the entire offside scenario restarts. D was in offside position when B played the ball. He may not participate in play until offside scenario resets. Simple. No goal.