Question Number: 23291

Law 11 - Offside 5/10/2010

RE: rec Adult

Steve Ash of West Des Moines, IA usa asks...

Offside:
This is probably only hypothetical:
Offensive player(OP)goes on a solo run with the ball and has only the opposing GK in front of him. OP makes a Ronaldo-like move, or momentarily loses control, so the ball is now behind him. Is OP offside?
Thank You

Answer provided by Referee Nathan Lacy

Not as hypothetical as you might think. Simple question - has this player received the ball from a teammate while in the offside position? (He does NOT qualify as his own teammate I might add.) I would dare say the answer to that question is 'no' hence no offside infraction. All the best,

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Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Steve, offside is judged at the moment the ball is played or touched by a teammate. Didn't happen here as the OP was only attacker involved in this play.

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Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Steve
A player has to recieve the ball from a team mate to meet one of the conditions of Offside Law 11. A player in an offside position is only penalised if, at the moment the ball touches or is played by one of his teammates so a player cannot be offside on a ball last played by himself as in this case and it is not even a consideration
I would recommend that you view FIFA's Interactive Guide to Law 11 which can be viewed at
http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/lawsofthegame.html

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