Question Number: 24228

Law 11 - Offside 10/25/2010

RE: Select Under 15

PJ of Guyton, GA US asks...

I had a player about five yards in an offside position on a long high kick ball style pass. As the PIOP ran onto the bounding ball, I raised my flag to signal offside.

There was a defender attempting to get to the ball but was being obstructed by the PIOP. A second attacker sprinting from an onside position headed the ball forward before PIOP could play the ball.

What would be the correct call? Offside, Obstruction, or No Call????
B
(OP)
(D) (A)

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi PJ
From what you desribe the correct call is offside as the player in an offside position interfered with an opponent. Now had the PIOP not interfered with an opponent it was not offside and it is advised to wait and see what happens before calling offside. Also remember that when the PIOP meets all the conditions of offside that offence happened before any other offence that happens afterwards.
BTW obstruction is no longer in the Laws of the Game. It is now impeding which has an indirect free kick restart. If there is contact between the players it has to be one of the penal fouls of charging, pulling, holding, pushing etc

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Impeding would be incorrect here, as this is an offside offense. It has the same restart, an IDFK, but the use of the Law is wrong. Had this happened in open play (no offside consideration to worry about) perhaps a call for impeding would be warranted, although I doubt it.

If the PIOP interfered with the defender trying to get the ball, you're done - raise the flag. The interference could have allowed the onside player to get there and play the ball, and that is unfair and the reason for OS.

With the description of the event given, there is no way this is no call. Take the PIOP out of the scenario, and there is no call - it is simply defender vs. attacker, but with the PIOP there, we have OSP and involvement - raise the flag!