Question Number: 26160

Law 11 - Offside 4/10/2012

RE: Competive Adult

Eduardo of Stamford, Connecticut United States asks...

If a player from Team B clears the ball from their side, but awkwardly gives the ball to the forward from Team A, who is clearly offside and scores, what would be the best/right call to make?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Eduardo
The only decision the referee can make is to allow the goal as offside is not a consideration here.
A player in an offside position is only penalised if, at the moment the ball touches or is played by one of his team not by an opponent and the player in an offside position gets involved in active play.
The only exception to this is where the ball rebounds / deflects off an opponent to Player A in an offside position from a deliberate play by a team mate of Player A. That contact of the ball by the opponent is not deliberate and the rebound / deflection does not reset the offside.
A player cannot be offisde on any deliberate play by an opponent.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The forward is not 'clearly offsides.'

The first question is whether the forward from Team A was in offside position the last time the ball was touched by a teammate. Otherwise, the forward is eligible to play the ball regardless of current positioning.

If the forward was in offside position when the ball was last touched by a teammate, the next question is whether - in the interim - the defense had gained clear possession and control of the ball. That would make the forward eligible to play the ball. Note: a deflection is not enough.

The referee must judge whether the player from Team B had clear possession and control of the ball, but erred in giving the ball to the forward from Team A (not offside); whether it was a deflection rather than possession and control (offside); or whether the forward from Team A did something that interfered with the opponent's ability to see or play the ball (offside).

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Goal. It may have been awkward or not pretty, but when the defender cleared the ball, he controlled it and there can be no offside for any opponent as offside is only judged when the ball is played by a teammate