Question Number: 24547

Law 11 - Offside 2/2/2011

RE: Competive Adult

MykeeBoi of LONDON, United Kingdom asks...

Player A in the blue is offside as the pass is made. The ball takes a deflection off Red defender.

Assistant Referee raises his flag as the player A receives the ball, still in an offside position.

Goal is given. Correct or not?

http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/offside-surely!-louis-saha-arsenal-8370163/

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
Blue Player A when he touches the ball from a team mate off a deflection/rebound from Red defender is called offside for 'gaining an advantage by being in that position '
In the example shown the assistant referee can decide that the ball was deliberately kicked albeit poorly by the Red defender and that it can be viewed that it was not a deflection/rebound. If it is not a deflection or a rebound then that is not offside.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The referee needs to judge whether the ball has deflected off a defender (offside) or has been possessed and controlled by a defender (not offside). At the highest levels of play, the judgment is more difficult than it is for amateur play.

For all referees, however, one standard remains. If there is doubt, it is resolved in favor of not offside.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The AR consulted with the referee. Despite what you may hear in the commentary, the ball was not "played through" to the Blue player in offside position when the ball was played by a Blue teammate. This assumes a deflection. The AR ruled the Red player played the ball. This resets offside and the Blue player is now free to play the ball.

I did not see the AR raise his flag, in fact if you watch the last 5 seconds of the video you will see the AR kept his flag down the entire time and ran to the goal line.