Question Number: 24551

Law 11 - Offside 2/2/2011

RE: Adult

Berg10 of Cardiff, Bridgend asks...

In the recent Arsenal v Everton match 01/02/2011, the Everton attack lofted the ball towards Saha (Everton attacker) who was some 2 metres offside, en route the ball was intentionally touched/deflected by Koscielny (Arsenal defender)that was collected by Saha and he scored. Is it a goal?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The referee crew evidently felt that the intervening touch was a play of the ball, as opposed to a deflection. If played, then the ball came from an opponent so previous offside position doesn't apply.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
This question has been asked anumber of times. If the AR believed that the touch by the Arsenal defender was deliberate then it is not a rebound/deflection and offside has been reset.
Many believe that the play of the ball by the Arsenal play was not controlled and therefore offside should have been called. That view was not shared by the AR.
IMO there is too much doubt about the contact of the ball and the 'best' decision for the game would have been offside. It certainly caused a lot of ill feeling in the game and by some alleged accounts players could have been dismissed for what was said afterwards and at half time.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Yes it is a goal because the AR kept his flag down. He must have believed the Arsenal defender PLAYED the ball which is not a deflection. Having seen numerous videos of this play, there are angles where it does seem the ball was played by the Arsenal defender although it obviously did not go where he would have liked it to. Just because the ball ends up at an unintended spot does NOT mean the ball was deflected. There are many videos showing a professional defender expertly heading the ball to an unmarked opponent that was in an offside position when the ball was played by a teammate and the flag always stays down.

Personally, I think if the AR is unsure, the flag stays down.