Question Number: 23268

Law 11 - Offside 5/6/2010

RE: Under 17

stopgap of sydney, nsw australia asks...

If a defender clears up field but the ball cannons of an attacker in an onside position back past the defender and to an attacker in an offside position. Is the attacker offside?

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Yes. Intent is not a prerequisite for an offside infringement; the teammate of the attacker in an offside position does not need to deliberately play the ball nor intend for it to go to the player in the offside position in order for that player to be penalised.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
This is indeed offside. The player in an offside position is penalised if, at the moment the ball touches or is played by one of his team, the player interferes with play by touching the ball. The cannon off the team mate is the touch that determines offside in this case, even if it is inadvertent

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

If the attacker in question was in an offside position when the ball touched his teammate, he may not become actively involved in play or he will be guilty of an offside offense. In your question, you are not making it clear WHEN the attacker was in an offside position. If he was in an offside position when he received the ball this is immaterial as it's his position when the ball is touched or played by a teammate that decides offside.