Question Number: 25909

Law 11 - Offside 1/23/2012

RE: Rec High School

Bruce of Baltimore, MD USA asks...

There were recently several video clips on youtube of professional games with the following situations:

1. The goalkeeper had possession of the ball in his hands after a shot, then dropped the ball on the ground to kick it, but an attacker (who was behind the goalkeeper and everyone else and closer to the goal) came from behind the goalkeeper and kicked the ball into the net. I understand the rules to be that he is still onside because none of his teammates have touched the ball since he was onside when the shot was taken. However, some of the responses to other questions here talk about attackers being onside/offside when a defender takes possession. Clearly if a defender taking possession resets the attackers offside status, this one was offside when the goalkeeper held the ball. Does a defenders actions ever change an attackers onside/offside status?

2. An attacker beats the goalkeeper, dribbles to the goal line, stops the ball, then bends down and heads the ball into the net. Isn't this taunting/unsportsmanlike behavior that should have nullified the goal?

Thank for your assistance.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Bruce:

1. A player who was in offside position the last time a teammate touched the ball is again eligible to participate in play after any defender gains clear possession and control of the ball. The eligibility extends until the next touch a teammate touches the ball- - when offside position is again determined.

So, once the keeper grabbed the ball, any opponent may play the ball after the keeper releases it from possession.

I find 'eligible to participate in play' a more useful phrase than 'onside.' Others use the terms interchangeably.

2. This is unsporting behavior IMO (and more importantly in the opinion of US Soccer Federation). The wise referee stops play as soon as the attacker drops to the ground. A caution and an indirect free kick will avoid having the game brought into disrepute. Moreover, it may save the player from serious injury as opponents will respond poorly to taunting.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Bruce
When the defending team take clear control/ possession of the ball offside is reset for any player that is an offside position and that player/s may again participate in active play.
In the example you cite once the goalkeeper collects the ball then there is no possibility of offside and once the GK throws the ball down to the ground any opponent including a player previously in an offside position may challenge for the ball as normal.
On your second question this is deemed by many referees as unsporting behaviour. Play is stopped, the player is cautioned and the restart is an IDFK from where the offence took place. However some referees can decide not to take any action as while they view the action as disreputable they do not deem it cautionable. For the goal to be disallowed the player must be cautioned. It is a pretty rare event and referees are not advised on this as a matter of course.
My advice is that at underage and school level the referee should treat it as USB while in the Pro game the ref may take a more lenient view

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

It's not just that the defenders gaining control 'resets' offside, once the defenders gain control there can be no offside as far as the attacking team is concerned.

Your second example is taunting deserving of a caution and taking away the goal