Question Number: 25506

Law 11 - Offside 9/27/2011

RE: Comp Under 12

Peter of Stockton, CA USA asks...

For the first time in twenty odd years of coaching I got really mad at a referee. This is what happened - my team was playing a really close match for third place in a tournament. The score was at 3-3 and both teams were playing wonderful soccer. One of my players sent the ball up over the heads of the players, their center defender did a really beautiful volley right into their net. Center signalled a goal, AR said, 'No Goal, there was a player off side.' I asked the AR if my player had interferred with play, she said 'No'. I instructed (pleasantly of course) that she needed to read up on her rules to which she responded that she did not have too. I reported the situation to her mentor who told me later that in her opinion, the off side player did not interfer with play but that the defender only mis hit the volley because of the off side player. The off side player I think was off side but was being marked by the center defender and so they were close together. So, what do you think?

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

A player in offside position (PIOP) can be guilty of an offside infringement without actual (or likely) contact with the ball. It is for 'interfering with an opponent' and defined to mean preventing an opponent from playing or being able to see or play the ball. The short hand for the referee is whether, if the PIOP could magically disappear off the field, would it have made a difference?

When as you indicate, the PIOP is right next to the center defender, the PIOP is clearly in the area of active play. That makes it far more likely that your player did something that in the referee's opinion affected the defender's play.

My sense is that you were wrong to get mad at the referee. It sounds like she isn't the one that needs to read up on the rules. You can get more information from the USSF Advice To Referees. There's a link to it on the home page of this website. (see sections 11.4 and 11.5). Moreover, if the AR is a teenager, some praise (and flowers) would be nice. You want her around!

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

There is more than playing the ball to make a player become offside. Law 11 says it is offside if the player is
'involved in active play by:
* interfering with play or
* interfering with an opponent or
* gaining an advantage by being in that position'

From the description you gave, the AR accurately described the attacker's play as 'interfering with an opponent' and so offside should be called.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Peter
In Law 11 'interfering with play' and 'gaining an advantage by being in that position' requires a touch of the ball for offside to be called. However "interfering with an opponent" does not require a touch of the ball but rather preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent's line of vision or movements or making a gesture or movement which, in the opinion of the referee, deceives or distracts an opponent.
If the AR believed that the movenment or close presence of the player in an offside position caused the defender to mis kick the ball then offside can and should be called.
I might add that it does not arise if the attacker is in an onside position and players should endeavour to stay onside at all times so that the offside call does not have to be considered