Question Number: 24491

Law 11 - Offside 1/16/2011

RE: Competitive Under 19

Kevin of Philly, PA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 24471

Goal kick is taken with an attacker in an offside position, defender attempts to play the ball before it is touched by any other player and mishandles. The ball ends up on the foot of the attacker who was in an offside position. The attacker did not receive the ball directly from the goal kick but the ball has not been touched by a teamate. Flag for offside or not?

Thanks in advance for you insights.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Kevin, you seem to know that offside does not apply to goal kicks. I assume you also know that offside is 'reset' when an opponent controls the ball, but not when the ball simply rebounds or deflects off an opponent. But from a goal kick, since there is no offside consideration to be reset, the deflection here makes no difference. Not offside.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Keep the flag down.

Every player IS eligible to play the ball on a goal kick and remains so until the next time the ball is touched by a teammate when offside position is again determined.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Don't forget that offside is a two part equation. The first part is position, but the second part involves the player in OSP playing a ball LAST PLAYED OR TOUCHED by a teammate. That doesn't apply directly off of a goal kick, and since the defender is not a teammate, that touch changes nothing. The attacking player is free to play the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Kevin
This cannot be offside as the ball has not been touched or played by a team mate. It is a fundamental of Law 11 that the player in an offside position at the moment the ball touches or is played by one of his team, he is, in the opinion of the referee, involved in active play.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

When IFAB wrote receives the ball directly, they assumed everyone understood directly meant didn't touch a member of his team on the way as when an opponent touches the ball it can never put one offside