Question Number: 22749

Law 11 - Offside 1/23/2010

RE: Under 19

b brandon of wellington, fl usa asks...

example....our forward was in an offsides position when ball was struck by his teammate. our forward was not near the ball, nor did he make an attempt to move towards the ball. before ball was touched by opponent, our forward was in an Onside position. Opponent's sweeper played the ball, our forward moved in, stole the ball at the opponents 40 yd line and shot and scored. Is this a goal?

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

I'm not sure about your facts.

If A1 is in an offside position and A2 is onside when the ball is played by a teammate, A1 may not interfere with an opponent's ability to play the ball. A2 may.

If A1 did nothing to interfere with the opponent, and A2 is the one that stole the ball and scored, it would be a good goal. If A1 interfered with an opponent's ability to play the ball, then A1 would be punished for offside infringement (interfering with an opponent) even though A1 never touched the ball.

Once the opponent has possession and control of the ball, then A1 may again participate in active play. The referee has to decide when that has occurred. The level of play and the proximity of A1 to the opponent will be factors in deciding.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Coach Brandon
The questions here are did the play/touch by the defender reset the offside and/or did the forward in the offside position 'interfere with the defender' in playing the ball.
From your description there is not enough detail to decide either way. If the defender had control of the ball and made a subsequent error then IMO that is not offside. If the forward in the offside position reacted to a poor touch or lack of control by the defender then that would be offside, even if he touched the ball in an onside position.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

If the opponent's sweeper CONTROLLED the ball, it doesn't matter where your player was as offside is only judged when a teammate touches the ball. If, in the opinion of the referee, the opponent's sweeper did not control the ball your player would not be allowed to play the ball as it doesn't matter that he was in an onside position after the ball was played by his teammate. Since he was in an offside position when the ball was played by his teammate, he may not become actively involved in play until offside has reset.

As my fellow panelists suggest, your forward also could do nothing but stand there and still interfere with the opposing sweeper's ability to play the ball. if, for example he blocked the sweeper's vision or the sweeper had to go around him to get to the ball. If he does, he's guilty of interfering with an opponent.

Answer provided by Referee Gene Nagy

Coach Brandon, if the attacker was not 'active' when he was in an offside position, then he should not be penalized for being in that position.
Active means playing the ball, interfering with play or blocking the line of sight of the goalie when there is a shot on goal. Your description says that the attacker was inactive and only became active once he was ONSIDE. If the attacker took the ball off a defender, who was in control of the ball, that is all fair play irrelevant whether he was offside or not. The goal counts. However, if the defender did not have control, i.e. it was deflected from a defender to the offside player, then he is judged to be taking an advantage for being in an offside position and penalized for it.