Question Number: 25187

Law 11 - Offside 7/8/2011

RE: Competive Adult

Kelly Frey of Cincinnati, Oh USA asks...

Situation: On a dfk on the 35 yardline of the attacking half, the defense is holding their line on the eighteen. An attacking player is standing in front of the keeper, prior to the approach of his teammate who is taking the free kick. As his teamate begins his approach, the teammate,who is in the offside position, peals off and away from the keeper, not making any attempt to play the ball. Is this player guilty of taking advantage of being in an offensive position? Is he quilty of misconduct of unsporting behavior? or is this a legal tactic of the offense?

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

The first line of Law 11 says it is not an offense to be in an offside position. So simply standing there is not an offense - unless or until that position interferes with an opponent, interferes with play or causes that player to gain an advantage from a rebound or deflection off of the goal or an opponent.

If by standing there, he did not interfere, no offense. If his position interfered with the keeper's line of sight or ability to move, offside. If the movement from his static position had no effect on keeper or defensive players, no offense. If his movement caused distraction, thus interference, offside.

I agree with Ref Wickham that players who stand in such positions do so for one purpose only - to game opponents. With that in mind, the referee can make a more thoughtful decision on whether an offside offense has occurred or not.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Kelly
It is not an offence to be in an offside position nor is it an offence for a player to position himself beside a player including the goalkeeper in an offside position.
For this tactic to work however the player in an offside position must move himself to a position before the kick is taken that does not prevents the goalkeeper from playing the ball or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructed the goalkeeper's line of vision or movements or making a gesture or movement which, in the opinion of the referee, deceives or distracts. The referee and AR are the sole judge of that.
I have been challenged about this by defending teams and I have said to them that there is nothing wrong with the player's position provided he does not interfere with the goalkeeper at the kick. On a rebound that player would not be unable to be involved in play due to his previous offside position.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

A player in offside position who stands directly in front of the keeper's line of sight during a free kick is doing it for only one purpose: to interfere with the keeper's ability to see or play the ball. If the referee judges that she has affected the keeper's ability to see or play the ball, the player is offside for interfering with a defender. In my game, I'm likely to make that judgement every time.

(The referee will have to decide whether by moving away from the keeper before the kick, the player is no longer affecting the keeper's play.) Just being in offside position is not enough.