Question Number: 24440

Law 11 - Offside 12/26/2010

RE: Under 19

Steven of sydney, nsw australia asks...

If a defender goes off the field of play during normal course of the game if he goes over the sideline does the lineman stay inline if he second last opponent ?
and same if he goes behind the goal line does the assistant stay inline with the goal line or with the goal keeper ?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

When a player goes over the goal line or touch line, for the purpose of offside, he is on the line where he went out. In the case of the touch line, if he continues to move his spot on the touch line moves. If the defender going over the touch line is the next to last opponent, his progress will be marked. When the defender goes over the goal line he is ON the goal line so probably no longer the second to last opponent. The AR will keep up with and mark whoever the second to last opponent is which may be the goalkeeper.

Of course, the AR marks the ball as the offside line if it is closer to the goalline than the next to last opponent

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Steven
That is correct and it is difficult to do if it happens on the same side as the assistant who must get out of the way of the defender perhaps at speed and then sprint to get level with the 2nd last defender again who could be that player or another defender. As you know that 2nd last defender keeps changing with the movement of play and the ball. The only time a defender would not be taken into the offside calculation is when he is off the field of play with the referee's permission.
If a defender goes off the field of play behind the goal line the AR must stay in line with the 2nd last opponent nearest the goal line which in most case will probably be the goalkeeper as the defender off the field behind the goals must be considered for offside purposes. If there are two defenders off the field of play behind the goal line then the goal line is the offside line.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

For purpose of offside position, a defender who is temporarily off the field of play is considered to be at the spot the player exited. Consider the player to be a 'virtual defender' who must be considered. (The AR should ignore a player who has been given permission by the referee to leave, and who therefore needs permission to reenter, but in the normal run of play, the AR ordinarily won't have that information.)

The AR must remain, as always, even with the second last defender (real or virtual) or the ball if it is closer to the goal line.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 24792