Question Number: 25217

Law 11 - Offside 7/15/2011

RE: rec Adult

alex of richmond hill, ontario canada asks...

This question is a follow up to question 25195

I have a discussion with some fellow referees on what constitute the defender having control and possession of the ball. The grey area is passive possession which we cannot came to an agreement.

Let say the offside attacker stand around and do nothing as he realised that he is in an offside position. Now the defender (or GK) go to the ball and then choose to wait next to the ball instead of playing the ball. Maybe trying to kill some remaining minutes, etc. The question is whether this sort of passive possession reset the offside phase and allows the offside attacker to challenge the ball?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Until the goalkeeper physically controls the ball with clear possession, the original offside-positioned attacker is not allowed to participate in play. This includes getting close enough to the ball to force the keeper or other defender to play it - that would be interfering with an opponent. If the team doesn't want to allow the defenders to legally use time by letting the ball sit, then another teammate who was in an onside position needs to challenge for the ball.

Note however that the effect of either an onside or offside positioned player making the challenge is effectively the same. The defense will clear the ball out, or they will be given an IFK for offside. Either way, play gets moving again. Only if there is a stalemate between defender and offside-positioned attacker is time consumed - legally consumed, but needlessly consumed. It's up to the attacking team to force the issue. The defense can wait around for as long as the attackers allow.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Alex
Perhaps the best way to answer this is to say that a player in an offside position cannot put himself in an onside position until either the ball goes out of play, is touched by a team mate in an onside position or the ball is controlled by an opponent. There is no such thing as passive possession and the PIOP must wait for the ball to be controlled by a defender before he can engage in active play again. However control of a dead ball will be the slightest touch by a defender. In reality this will be a pretty rare event probably likely to happen on a ball passed through which goes all the way through to the goalkeeper. If the attacker gets close enough to interfere with an opponent, the GK in this case, the advice is to call the offside to prevent a collision. That does not then allow the situation to develop into a standoff. If there is a stand off with neither touching the ball then as soon as the PIOP moves to play the ball or interfere with the ball being played the offside should be called. These situations are indeed rare and most players including goalkeepers will rarely if ever take the chance. The much more likely scenario is the hurried one touch kick while being closed down.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

I guess I am going to disagree. Whether keeper or outfield player if he stands over a ball and waits 5 seconds to anything but kill time, you can bet I won't be giving the OAP player an offside offence. May not be by the letter Of law but certainly is within the SPIRIT of Law

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

A player either possesses and controls the ball or he doesn't. There is no such thing as passive possession (and I'm quoting a higher source). Never has been, except in the minds of misinformed referees/announcers/coaches/players.

Possession and control for defenders requires touching the ball - and not in the sense of a miskick or misdirection or flub - but in the sense the defender can direct where the ball goes next with her touch, whether that is away from the OSPP or upfield, or a clear or what. And the defender must have said possession and control in order to reset an attacker's offside positioning.

No if's, and's or but's about it.