Question Number: 23076

Law 11 - Offside 4/6/2010

RE: Rec Under 17

Tim of Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada asks...

Say player A and player B are both attacking, and player A has the ball. If both players are onside to begin with, but both move into an offside position, would it be offside if player A passes to player B (who scores), who are both very close to the keeper at the time? I have read and studied Law XI, but I cannot conclude whether or not it was an offside call. Again, both players were quite close to the keeper during the play, which could lead to an offside due to 'interference'.

Thanks in advance, looking forward to a response.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

To start with, let's look at what the Laws of the Game say about an offside position:

'A player is in an offside position if:
? he is nearer to his opponents' goal line than both the ball and the
second-last opponent'

So if an attacker is closer to the goal line than the second last opponent (usually the sweeper, but not always - the keeper is typically the last opponent, but not always!), and the ball, then he is in an offside position.

In the situation you describe where Attackers A and B are both past the second last opponent, we then need to consider whether Attacker B is in front of the ball. If Attacker B is level with the ball, or behind it, then he is not in an offside position.

There only needs to be a sliver of Attacker B's body (basically, any part of his body except his arms) in front of the ball and the 2nd last defender to be considered in an offside position.

Once the referee has determined the attacker is in an offside position, then he needs to determine if he is involved in active play. As you point out, interfering with an opponent is one possible way in which he could be penalised for being in an offside position without touching the ball - though naturally if he's in line with the ball, or behind it, then there can be no offside infringement by this player.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Offside position is judged not only in relation to the second last defender, but also in relation to the ball. In your situation, it is likely that the 'offside line' is judged in connection with the ball (since it is closer to the goal line than the second last defender.) If B is h even with the ball when A makes the pass, then B is onside regardless of the location of the defenders.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Hi Tim. First, the player with the ball is NEVER in offside position as the ball is closer to the opposing goal line than he is. I think you are forgetting the fundamentals of offside position. It's nearer the opposing goal line than the next to last opponent AND the ball. So, if player A has the ball and player B stays even with him or behind him, player B is not in offside position so there can be no offside offense. If player B is ahead of the ball than he is in offside position if the only opponent between him and the goal line is the keeper. If Player B IS in offside position when the ball is played to him and he makes contact with the ball, he is guity of interfering with play and offside should be called.

Second; there is no offside offense called interference. What you mean is interfering with an opponent. If player A decides to take a shot on goal and Player B hinders the keeper's line of site, than offside should be called for interfering with an opponent

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Tim
I would refer you to the FIFA web site where there is an Interactive Guide to Law 11.

http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/lawsofthegame.html

The key to your question is the ball. If your team mate is ahead of the ball and he has only the goalkeeper between himself and the goal line then he is in an offside position and should he recieve and touch the ball even off a rebound from the GK he is called offside.
Coaches should always coach players that in these situations to always stay behind the ball so that the ball can be passed to them or to follow up on a rebound.
A final point on this is that even if Player A plays the ball backwards and Player B runs back from an offside position ie ahead of both the ball and the second-last opponent that is still offside as the direction of the pass is irrelevant in law 11.