Question Number: 25871

Law 11 - Offside 1/5/2012

RE: Any Other

Mark Fischer of armonk, ny USA asks...

If a player indisputably in an offside position does not play a ball passed to or near him (e.g., steps over it, allows it to pass by him untouched, runs past it to get back to what would have been an onside position if he had been there when the ball was kicked) should offside be called?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Mark
This should not be called offside as the player has not interfered with play nor has he interfered with an opponent nor has he gained an advantage by being in that position. The player in an offside position has to meet one of the above three conditions of offside for the offence to be called.
Simply being in an offside position is not an offence with the proviso that the player cannot become onside again until the ball is played by another team mate to begin another phase of play or the opponents gain possession of the ball or the ball goes out of play.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Mark: There are two notions:

1. Players in offside position cannot do anything to make themselves 'onside.' Running to their own half or running behind the ball or second last defender does nothing to change that a player who was in offside position cannot participate in play until: (a) the player is in onside position the next time the ball is touched by a teammate; (b) an opponent gains possession and control of the ball; or (c) the ball goes out of play.

2. It is not an infringement to be in an offside position. The player who runs past the ball should not be called offside unless the player either interferes with play (by touching the ball directly or after a deflection) or interferes with an opponent's ability to see or play the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

It is not an offense to be in an offside position. The player didn't touch the ball and therefore didn't interfere with play. He didn't gain an advantage by being in an offside position. So, only if he somehow interfered with an opponent could offside be called.

A player cannot put himself onside

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 25874