Question Number: 25563

Law 11 - Offside 10/7/2011

RE: Intermediate Under 12

Phil of Tarzana, CA United States asks...

I thought I knew all the offside answers after following this website for about 6 months, but here goes. I was AR. Let me start by saying I realize that it's the referee's opinion that counts & I'm not contesting that, but want to know what you would have called, assuming these facts.

A1 is in an offside position when A2 kicks the ball toward D's goal. D1 intercepts the ball & A1 rushes toward her. D1 gets off a quick kick, which goes to D2. I raised my flag as I felt that D1 was pressured by the offside attacker, & ewven though D2 controlled the ball, advantage isn't given for offside infringements. D1 had more than one defender that she could pass to or could have cleared the ball if she had another second or two.

The referee didn't see the flag & didn't realize that A1 was offside. Anyhow, D2 (the one who now had the ball) was challenged by another attacker (who was onside) & that attacker scored. I informed the referee about the offside infringement, but he allowed the goal to stand, saying offside was reset when D2 controlled the ball.

I agree that offside would then reset & also that the referee could have decided that D1 wasn't pressured (& so that it reset then), BUT assuming that my facts are accurate, wouldn't the previous interference with D1 invalidate the goal? In fact, the more I think about it, the more I think I'm correct. IDFK from the point A1 was offside?

Thanks for making me a better referee.
--
Phil

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Why stop play?

D2 has control of the ball, from a pass from D1. That D2 then lost the ball to a player who was in onside position is what makes soccer a fun game.

This isn't an issue of advantage, but an issue whether or not A1 did something that actually interfered with the defender's ability to see or play the ball. Your description seems to confirm that A1 wanted to do affect play, but did not. At best, any infringement by A1 was trifling.

When there is any doubt, the decision should be 'not offside.' Keep the flag down.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

While the offside offense may have been there, it was only very momentary. D1 got the ball away to D2. Then D2 evidently lost the ball - that had nothing to do with any offside that might have been there before. It sounds pretty trifling to me.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Phil
As D1 got the pass away and D2 subsequently controlled the ball IMO the offside was at worst trifling if at all. D1 passed the ball away which went to D2 who controlled the ball. That does not read like the interference had any significant impact on play. D2 then made an error which was not effected by the possible offside.
It is debateable if there was sufficient interference by A1 in the first place to call offside and I feel that a 'wait and see' approach was the best way to handle this.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Your premise is A1 was close enough to D1 to immediately capitalize on a mistake by D1 and thus gain an advantage by being in an offside position. But where was the mistake by D1? D1 got the pass off to D2 thus resetting offside. I fail to see any offside offense here

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