Question Number: 23001

Law 11 - Offside 3/25/2010

RE: Under 19

javier renteria of merced, ca usa asks...

If player 'a' is in an offside position and the ball is deflected to him from the opposing team is he offside or does play keep going because it was touched by the opposing team? not offside seen he did not received the ball directly by his team mate.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

A deflection does not invalidate the conditions for offside - in an offside position at the time the ball was last touched by a teammate, followed by participating in play.

Only deliberate control and play of the ball by the opponent resets offside.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

One of the three ways that a player in offside position infringes the offside law is by 'gaining an advantage.' Gaining an advantage is defined as touching the ball after it deflects off an opponent, goal post or cross-bar. In your example, player A is offside if he plays the ball after it deflects off an opponent.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Referee Renteria
Law 11 makes provision for these types of situation by stating that when a player plays a ball that rebounds to him 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 he is deemed to gaining an advantage by being in that position and that is offside. Rebounds also includes deflections, miscontrol etc.