Question Number: 24386

Law 11 - Offside 11/28/2010

RE: Rec, Select Under 13

James of Gulf Breeze, FL USA asks...

I was just looking at the game-winning goal for Spain in the World Cup Final this past summer, and I was wondering if Iniesta could be 'interfering with an opponent' in the clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZ8XSDtfewo

At 0:04, provided Iniesta is in an offside position (very tough to tell), could he be interfering with an opponent since he is, after all, causing the Dutch defender to block the ball from going to him (thus starting the eventual pass to Iniesta and the goal).
So how flexible is the law? Could this event fit the definition of interfering with an opponent?

'A player who is in an offside position when the ball is played toward him by a teammate and who, in
the opinion of the referee, attracts the attention of an opponent, drawing that opponent into pursuit, is
guilty of interfering with an opponent.'

Thanks for your answers.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi James
"Interfering with an opponent" means preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent's line of vision or movements or making a gesture or movement which, in the opinion of the referee, deceives or distracts an opponent.
In this clip and even if Iniesta was definitely in an offside position IMO it is not interfering with an opponent. The player does not interfere with the opponent's view of the ball, nor does he prevent the player from playing the ball not does he distract/decieve an opponent.
So this IMO would not be offside and the correct call was made. My advice would be look for closer proximity and involvement between the players or the line of sight interference before considering it as interfering.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Did Iniesta do something that affected the defender's ability to play the ball? To see the ball? Referees should not assume that the mere presence in an offside position caused the defender to ignore or misplay the ball.

The referee may consider, however, how close the player in offside position is to the area of play, the age and skill level of the players; where the player is located (blocking the defender's sight or access to the ball); and what the player actually does (including gestures or movement) when judging if there was actual interference with an opponent's ability to challenge for the ball.