Question Number: 25721

Law 11 - Offside 11/7/2011

RE: Select Under 11

Tim Silvestre of Los Angeles, CA USA asks...

In the BPL game between QPR and Man City on 11.5.11, an interesting circumstance occurred that I think should have been called offside. As the ball moved down the far left side of the MC defensive zone, two QPR attackers rushed the goal behind all but one defender and the GK. A cross entered the penalty area in the air, the last defender jump at it in mid stride, misses then runs out of bounds across the goal line. The two attackers are on side when the pass is made as they were slightly behind the leaping defender. One attacker then heads the ball towards the goal (now the defender is off the pitch and out of the play due to his momentum) and the ball rolls across the other QPR attacker's back and into the net. Goal awarded, despite protest from the GK and the out of bounds defender. I had to watch the replay multiple times but believe that since the second to last defender was not on the field of play when the QPR attacker headed a pass to the QPR attacker who scored the goal, that attacker was offside when the ball was touched (headed) by his teammate. Thoughts?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Ah, did we learn nothing from the game between Netherlands and Italy in EURO 2008? IFAB even put something in the Laws of the Game (now found on page 103 of the current edition): 'Any defending player leaving the field of play for any reason without the referee's permission shall be considered to be on his own goal line or touch line for the purposes of offside until the next stoppage in play. If the player leaves the field of play deliberately, he must be cautioned when the ball is next out of play.'

When a defender leaves the field of play, his position is considered to be on the end line (or touch line) for purposes of determining offside.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Tim
Excellent call by the AR who spotted that the Man City defender had, through his own momentum, moved off the field of play. It was always implied knowledge by many referees and assistants that a player off the field of play unless given permission by the referee to be there had to be considered in the offside calculation. Rarely was there any doubt on the touchline calls probably because it looked onside looking across the FOP. As Ref Voshol highlights that implied knowledge was tested in the Euro 2008 and some argued that as it was not explicitly written down in the Laws that offside should have been called in the Van Nistelrooy goal for Holland versus Italy, which it wasn't
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePFjXxbJdz0
Subsequently IFAB dealt with any doubt or confusion on this interpretation by adding in a clause into the interpretation of Law 11 quoted on page 103 of the current Laws. Had the Man City player done that deliberately it would have earned himself a caution.
Thanks for bring this question up as it is an important element of Law 11

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Tim:

A defender who is temporarily off the field of play is counted in determining who is the second last defender, and is treated as if located where the defender left the field of play.

In this case, the defender who was behind the goal line was considered to be on the goal line. This meant the attacker was onside.