Question Number: 24569

Law 11 - Offside 2/7/2011

RE: Rec Adult

brian casey of Newmarket, Ontario Canada asks...

A player is in an off-side postion, when the ball is played back to the keeper by one of the keepers team.
The player in the off-side postion now intercepts the back pass, and scores.

Does the goal stand??.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Brian
Of course it counts. A player can only be offside from a ball that was last touched by a team mate. A player cannot be offside on a deliberate pass from an opponent.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Good goal.

Any player is eligible to participate in play when the ball is possessed and controlled by an opponent. Offside position is judged when the ball is NEXT touched or played by a teammate!

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Brian. You as a referee have to know Law 11 cold. First line of Law 11 is perhaps the most important:

It is not an offence in itself to be in an offside position.

The second most important line in Law 11 is the first line under OFFENCE:

A player in an offside position is only penalised if, 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.

Were the goal to be called off the player would have been penalized for being in an offside position which is wrong.

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

See Question: 24591