Question Number: 25937

Law 11 - Offside 1/30/2012

RE: Under 17

Soccer T of Barnegat, NJ USA asks...

An attacking player is in an offside position and a defender recieves the ball and decides to pass it back to his goalie. The attacker then intercepts the ball and scores. Does it count?

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

It does. Once a defender obtains clear possession and control of the ball, any player on the opposing team is eligible to play the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
When a defender gains control of the ball that resets any offside consideration. So in this case the goal is good as the ball has been passed to the attacker by a defender.
It would be deemed to be offside if the player in an offside interfered with the opponent after a pass by an attacking team mate or the ball was deflected / rebounded to the player in an offside position by a defender again off a pass/touch by an attacking team mate.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Yes it does. Offside is a consideration ONLY when the ball is played by a teammate. When the ball is played by an opponent, there can be no offside regardless of position

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Offside is irrelevant to the equation if the ball is last controlled and played by a defender. Offside requires that a PIOP get involved with a ball that was last touched or played by a teammate, which is clearly not the case here.

If the defender did not control the ball, and it was a miskick or misdirection, then offside would apply.