Question Number: 23345

Law 11 - Offside 5/20/2010

RE: amature Adult

moh'd of tehran, tehran Iran asks...

When two forwards run from behind the last defender and when still there is a defender between them and GK , the third forward passes the ball behind the defender , now both of them are running through the goal with the ball , is there any possibility for being in offside position if one of them passes the ball to the other ?

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

When two attackers are closer to the goal line than the second last defender, it is the position of the ball that becomes the key factor for offside position.

At the moment the pass is made, an attacker who is even with or behind the ball is onside and may participate in play. If the attacker, at that moment, is closer to the opponent's goal line than the ball, the player is in offside position.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
To be in an onside position the player must have two opponents between himself and the goal line. Usually one defender is the goalkeeper and the assistant referee looks for the 2nd last opponent to determine offside positions . If an attacker has only one opponent between himself and the goal line he is in a offside position and he will be penalised if and when he touches the ball that is played to him by a team mate. A player is not in an offside position if he is level with or behind the ball.
In the example you describe if one of the two attackers is ahead of the ball with only the goalkeeper between him and the goal line he will be called offside if he touches the ball that is played by a team mate or he interferes with the goalkeeper's play of the ball including impeding the GK's view of the ball. If he does not interfere with play or an opponent no offside offence will be called.
The advice for attackers in these positions is to stay level with or behind the ball and then offside is not a factor.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

There are 3 conditions, all of which must be met to be in an offside position:
-- closer to the goal line than the ball
-- closer to the goal line than the 2nd to last opponent (doesn't matter what position those opponents are; although one of them is commonly the goalkeeper that is not necessary)
-- in the attacking half of the field.

If any of those conditions are missing, there is no offside position.

So a pair of attackers may go past all the opponents, and as long as they stay behind the ball they are not in an offside position and no offside can be called.