Question Number: 26090

Law 11 - Offside 3/22/2012

RE: Adult

Kyriacos of Larnaca, Cyprus asks...

A player makes a long pass to his co-player and his co-player takes position outside the line of the field for example left from the goalpost but outside the lines.When the ball reaches his he doesn't jump and makes a head-ball but the ball doesn't pass the line.
Note the player isn't taking position outside the lines accidentally.
Is it foul or is OK ?

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Players often run temporarily off the field of play as part of the normal part of the game. And, that is ok. But, they commit unsporting behavior when they leave the field for tactical reasons - - such as when they step off the field to show they are not participating in play from an offside position and then step back into the field to play the ball, or when they distract or disrupt the keeper from behind the goal line.

When a player commits misconduct off the field, it is never a foul. This is because a foul, by definition, must occur on the field of play. The act still will be punished, however, with a caution (yellow) or sendoff (red) as appropriate.

It's not clear in your example if the co-player simply stepped off the field to show non-involvement in play from an offside position (which ordinarily is not misconduct) or did something else that would make this unsporting behavior.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi K yriacos
The first consideration here for the referee is whether the player is in an offside position. If the player moves off the field of play to avoid offside then the player may not participate again until the ball goes out of play, the opponents gain control of the ball or an onside team mate begins another phase of play.
If there is no offside consideraion then there is no difficulty in a player moving off the field of play to better position himself to play the ball such as keeping it in play and there is no offence

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Players are expected to stay on the field of play. They may leave the field during the normal course of play but cannot leave the field purposely and stay off the field for tactical purposes. If, in the opinion of the referee, a player leaves for tactical purposes, he is guilty of misconduct, unsporting behavior, the punishment for which is a caution and a yellow card.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

In this scenario, the receiving player sounds like he is off over the goal line in which case offside position is hard to avoid. He would most likely be called for offside and cautioned for unsporting behavior for having left the field for tactical reasons.

However, offside position depends on where he was when the ball was kicked to him by his teammate. If we assume the player was not in offside position, and thus is able to play the ball legally, the next question is how did he get off the field? If he went and stood out there, then he is guilty of USB. If he saw the ball coming and had to back up or step off to keep the ball in play, then there is no misconduct and play continues.