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Soccer Rules Changes 1580-2000


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Question Number: 22729

Law 11 - Offside 1/17/2010

RE: Select Under 14

Rob Johnson of Folsom, CA United States asks...

My question relates to this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glJagi-LakA

Note that the purpose of my inquiry is not to challenge a call. The game's over and it was a tremendous contest - both teams' families left feeling so. My question regards an interesting twist on the Offsides rule (which you've explained to me countless times through my reading of your site).

In the video you see a pass from RED MIDFLD to RED FWD, and the subsequent goal. But, it appears that RED FWD (receiver) is in an offside position at the time of the serve (although this is not conclusive in the video, for the purpose of this question she's in an offside position). But, before reaching REDFWD, the ball deflects off of BLACK #15. Although not particularly clear in the video (best seen at 1:02), the ball was deflected (we see RED FWD change direction after the deflection).

My question: Does a deflection like this change anything about RED FWD being offside; the deflection changing the entire action from that point, and RED FWD is then no longer offside because of the deflection?

Or, because she was offside at the time the ball was passed, she thus maintains that status at the time she receives the ball, regardless of what happens in between?

I know the video does not perfectly display all of the above. My question is about such circumstances as described, not about this specific play or game.

Thank you!

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Rob
From the video it is impossible to make a definitive offside call on this. What I can say looking at the video is that
1. It is not clear if Red 17 was in an offside position when the ball was kicked forward, that is the moment of the red player's kick. Remember it is the player's position when the ball is kicked not when it is received that determines offside.
2. The deflection by Black 15 has no bearing on the offside call in this case. Black defence would have to control the ball to 'reset' any possible offside position and a deflection or a rebound does not do that in any circumstance. So when considering offside the player is offside when the ball is played and that status will only change when the opponents gain control of the ball or the ball goes to a team mate in an onside position, which then sets up another phase of play. The relevant part of Law 11 that deal with this is and I quote ""?gaining an advantage by being in that position? means playing a ball that rebounds to her off a goalpost or the crossbar having been in an offside position or playing a ball that rebounds to him off an opponent having been in an offside position""
3. The neutral assistants with responsibility for offside appears to be in a good position and this would have been reasonably easy one to call if it was clearly offside.

The key word in all of this 'control' of the ball and any deflection, uncontrolled contact, uncontrolled headers, rebounds does not reset offside. The defending team must gain 'control' of the ball for offside to be reset and 'control' means the ability to manipulate the ball and prepare it for a following touch by the player or a team mate.



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Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

I suspect that Red 17 was NOT in an offside position at the time her teammate last touched the ball, although this was never shown in the video. If you look at the relative movements of Red 17 and Black 8 when the camera pans toward them, they are moving in opposite directions. Black 8 might have been closer to the goal than Red 17 when the ball was last played by Red's side. That would be the reason for any non-offside call in this situation, if the call was that the goal counted. The AR would be one of the few people in position to see this, and probably the only person paying attention to it.

I agree with Ref McHugh that if 17 was in an offside position, the deflection does not change that. This is illustrated in the Laws of the Game, Interpretation and Guidelines section, page 107 diagram 12.



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Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

There is nearly three seconds from the time of the kick to the moment when Red 17 is visible on the camera frame. In three seconds, it is easy for a player to move ten yards.

Answering your question, however, a deflection off the defender does not affect the offside decision. One of the ways a player in offside participates in play is by 'gaining an advantage.' This is defined by FIFA as touching the ball after it rebounds off a goalpost/crossbar or deflects off an opponent.




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