Question Number: 26436

Law 11 - Offside 6/11/2012

RE: competive Under 19

damian bell of westminster, ma USA asks...

As i watched the Ireland v Croatia i was confused on the 2nd goal for Croatia that the player was not called offside. i know the irish player touched the ball last, but the player from Croatia was in a offside position prior to the last touch, is not gaining an advantage by being in an offside position.If any of the refs saw the game and remenber the call could they answer please, Thanks, Damian

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Gaining an advantage from being in an offside position applies to a deflection off the defence.

While it's difficult to tell in the replays I've seen, it looks like one Ireland player stops the ball (I wouldn't say he controlled it though), and it went to another Ireland player. This player had the ball at his feet, tried to clear it and skewed the kick. I think between those two players we can say the Ireland had regained control of the ball, thus there is no longer an offside consideration.

As I said, it's hard for me to tell exactly what happened.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Damian
Had the ball gone directly to the Croatian player in an offside position off the first deflection then it would have been offside for gaining an advantage by being in that position.
However the ball deflected to a 2nd Irish player who then attempted to clear the ball and he miskicked the ball to the Croatian player in an offside position. That is not offside.
Also generally at the higher levels of the game a misplay is seen as control of the ball as it is not a deflection or a rebound.
What was missed though was the reason for the miskick which was a Croatian player impeding the kick by the Irish player. It was shown that when he drew his leg back to kick the ball the Croatian player made contact with his foot causing him to mis cue. Certainly hard for the referee to see it due to his position and angle but the AAR had a good angle and could have spotted it.