Question Number: 25874

Law 11 - Offside 1/7/2012

RE: Various Other

Mark Fischer of armonk, ny USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 25871

Thanks for the responses. Now add in that the keeper has visibly moved to address the expected play of the ball by the offside player (e.g., because he doesn't see that the player is offside or doesn't know if offside will be called). The offside player still does not touch the ball (or impede a defender) but an offensive player in an onside position runs onto the ball after it passes the player that had been in the offside position and the keeper is now out of position to defend against this second player. What's the call?

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The general answer remains: 'not offside.'
The player in offside position did not interfere with the defender's ability to see or play the ball. The defender wasn't deceived by the PIOP's words/gestures/movements (e.g., shouting to distract the keeper's attention). The defender make a poor choice in positioning.

In my experience, however, this question is never asked by keepers. Keepers learn from the earliest age to focus on the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Mark
The question the referee has to ask is whether the player in an offside position interfered with an opponent.
"Interfering with an opponent" means preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent's line of vision or movements or making a gesture or movement which, in the opinion of the referee, deceives or distracts an opponent.
From your description the player in an offside position has not interfered with an opponent as he has not prevented the goalkeeper from playing or seeing the ball, nor has his action deceived or distracted the opponent so the call is to allow play to continue

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Advice to Referees 11.5 says, 'Mere presence in the general proximity of an opponent should not be considered a distraction for that opponent.'