Question Number: 25718

Law 11 - Offside 11/7/2011

RE: competive Adult

mike of Philadelphia, PA usa asks...

Player is in the offside position to the left of the goal. Teammate plays the ball in his vicinity but he make no attempt to play the ball. Another attacker who was not in the offside position runs and crosses the ball to 3rd teammate who also was not offsides who then scores, I allowed goal. The defending team said that it should not have been a goal because the offside player was involved in the play but it was obvious that he made no attempt to play the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

If you determined that the player in the offside position (PIOP) was not involved in play, then there is no offside offense committed. The first line of Law 11 says that it is not an offense simply to be in an offside position.

Even if the PIOP was just standing there, his presence could might have blocked an opponent's path or sight line to the ball. In that case, it would be offside for interfering with an opponent. But those instances are relatively rare.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

You made the correct call. The player in offside position must do something by either touching the ball (after a pass or deflection) or by interfering with a defender's ability to see or play the ball.

Defenders want the offside called whenever anyone is in an offside position. But, that is not what Law 11 provides. Players are permitted to run from an onside position and score. Defenders need to mark them.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Mike
Your call was correct as the player in an offside position has not interfered with play by touching the ball nor has he interfered with an opponent seeing or playing of the ball. As the ball was played by an onside player then that is not offside.
Teams always seek lame excuse for conceding goals the most obvious one being a player in an offside position. It is not an offence to be in an offside position and the player must do something that interferes with play or an opponent to be called offside.
In a recent game I officiated on a defender tried to stop the ball going to a player in an offside position who was some 5/6 yards behind him. His interception was back towards the GK who missed the ball and a goal was scored. That was not offside although one player argued incorrectly that if the player was not there the defender may not have played the ball. I had no complaint from the rest of the team who knew that it was the defender playing a ball, he excecuted it poorly and the PIOP did not interfere with that defender. Just a poor decision.