Question Number: 25399

Law 11 - Offside 9/7/2011

RE: Select Under 15

Doug MacIntyre of Rockville, MD Montgomery asks...

In the Belgium v. US friendly on September 6, 2011, The US scored a goal off of a header towards the end of the game, but it appeared that the AR flagged offside on someone else that did not appear to be involved in active play. Was this the correct call?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Doug
When the ball is played there appears to be a number of US players in an offside position. Agudelo IMO is one of those players and he jumps for the ball with an opponent but fails to make contact. Goodson who is not in an offside position then plays the ball from behind those players. However the jump by Agudelo alongside a defender can and should be deemed to be interfering with an opponent and therefore the AR was entitled to make the offside call.
The AR in my opinion interpreted that jumping for the ball alongside an opponent as interfering with an opponent in an offside context and raised the flag with a signal then for offside. Some commentators erroneously suggested deliberate handling by Goodson. Had Agudelo not moved then the goal would have been given.
Learning point here. If players are going to start in an offside position they run the risk of interfering with an opponent by jumping close to opponents who are trying to play the ball . You might have noticed in the first half Fellaini running in front of Tim Howard on a shot that went slightly wide. Had the ball entered the goal I suspect that would have been called offside as well for interfering with an opponent. It is a good example of the line of sight criteria.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

What Ref McHugh says is exactly what I've heard numerous referees state elsewhere.