Question Number: 23100

Law 11 - Offside 4/12/2010

RE: Travel Under 13

Brad of Ashburn, VA USA asks...

Offside -- An offensive play dribbles the ball down to the goal line with a defensive player right with him and crosses the ball. Both players are running full speed and their momentum carries them off the field. The ball is knocked out by the keeper, but the ball is played back in by an offensive player to an offensive player who I believe is offside because the goalie is the only defender and the other defender is off the pitch over the goal line and did not intentionally step off the pitch to make the offensive player offside. Is this a correct call? or is the defender who is off the pitch still considered one of the last two defenders? Thanks.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The player over the end line is considered to be on the line for purposes of determining offside. This was made clear in the EURO2008 competition, where the player was pushed off the field by his own goalkeeper and may have been injured (although not severe enough for the referee to immediately stop play).

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Here is what the 2009/2010 USSF Advice to Referees has to offer on this subject:

11.10 PUTTING AN OPPONENT IN AN OFFSIDE POSITION UNFAIRLY
If a defending player moves beyond his or her own goal line or across a touch line to place an opponent in an offside position, the referee should not stop play immediately to caution the defending player, but should allow play to continue. The attacker should not be punished for the position in which he or she has been unfairly placed; however, the referee should caution the defending player at the next stoppage of play for leaving the field of play without the referee's permission.

11.11 DEFENDER LEGALLY OFF THE FIELD OF PLAY
A defender who leaves the field during the course of play and does not immediately return must still be considered in determining where the second to last defender is for the purpose of judging which attackers are in an offside position. Such a defender is considered to be on the touchline or goal line at the point closest to where the defender left the field. A defender who leaves the field with the referee's permission or at the referee's direction (and who thus requires the referee's permission to return) is not included in determining offside position.