Question Number: 24843

Law 11 - Offside 4/20/2011

RE: Adult

Joe Beukes of Windhoek, Namibia asks...

Ball is played to an attacker in the attacking half of the field. He is in front of the ball when it is played. This happens close to the touchline.

On the other side of the field, also close to the touchline, a defender is slowly tracking back due to an injury. Due to the position of this defender, at least 2 players of his team, being himself and the goalkeeper, is behind the ball and closer to his own goalline, than the attacker who received the ball when it was played.

Due to this defender being 'out of the game', should the linesman raise his flag for offside, or not?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

If a player is on the field, he is part of the game. There is no such thing as 'out of the game' due to slight injury.

In the situation given, there is no offside position, so there can be no offside offense.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

For purpose of offside position, the defender does not have to be participating in play.

The only time a defending player is not included in determining offside position is when the defender has left the field of play with the referee's permission (and, thus, needs the referee's permission to return).

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Joe
All defenders on the field of play are taken into account in the calculation of offside. That includes injured players out of the game or on the ground. That may seem unfair but it would only encourage players when they believe that they are in perhaps an unfavourable defending position to lie down to claim offside.
If there is a genuine injury referees should be alert to that and stop play as soon as practical so that these situations are properly attended to.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

'out of the game' is not the same as 'injured and off the field for treatment with the referee's permission'. If he is on the field he is in the game and counted. In fact, if he is unconscious sprawled out on the field, he's still counted for offside until the referee stops play.