Question Number: 25608

Law 11 - Offside 10/15/2011

RE: select Under 14

markus wijnands of mount sterling, ohio United States asks...

A week ago I was watching my son's soccer game and I notice that the referee called in 2 situations offsite on the opponent team.

1. offsite during a corner kick, when the opponent team player was past the last defender, but did not get the ball. The ball was with some one else on his team and he was trying to run with the ball and not trying to shoot the ball to the other player that was called offsite. Is this offsite?

2. is it offsite for any player that is standing past the last defender, but he/she does not get the ball played, but an opponent player is coming with the ball, but no attend has been made to kick the ball to the offsite player.

Thanks

Sincerely

Markus Wijnands

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

I presume you are talking about offside, Law 11. I hope we can interpret your questions correctly.

1) Offside does not apply at a corner kick. But it sounds like you are describing play after the corner kick has been taken and play is now continuing. The player in the offside position might have been called for interfering with an opponent, even though the player never got the ball.

2) When an opponent has the ball, there can be no offside.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Markus
FIFA has published an excellent tool for learning Law 11. It can be viewed here
http://www.fifa.com/lotg/football/en/flash/start.html
1. Offside does not apply directly from a corner kick. However after the kick and with the next touch by an attacking player offside does apply.
2. Being in an offside position is not an offence. So unless the ball is touched by the player in an offside position or that player interferes with an opponent there is no offside.