Question Number: 26543

Law 11 - Offside 7/8/2012

RE: Adult

trevor of birmingham, uk asks...

If all ten outfield players are in the opposing half, leaving only the goal keeper in his own half and a player from the other team is in his opposing half is he deemed offside?

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Offside position is based on the position of the second last defender AND the position of the ball. So, a player in his opponents half will be in onside position so long as that player is even with or behind the ball when it is last touched by a teammate

Offside position is only determined when a teammate touches a ball. So, if a defender plays the ball back to the goal keeper, an attacker standing between defender and goalkeeper would be eligible to play the ball regardless of position.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Trevor
Of course the player is an offside position. The attacking player is nearer to his opponents' goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent which put him an offside position. It just so happens that the second-last opponent is in the other half.
The only option available to the attacker is to remain in his own half until the ball is played / touched by a team mate. A player cannot be offside in his own half.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

This old myth just doesn't seem to want to die. For some reason people have gotten the impression that if the entire defensive team exits their half, they cause Law 11 to become null and void. NOT SO! Offside position is determined by 3 things:
- closer to the goal than the ball
- closer to the goal than the 2nd to last opponent
- in the attacking half of the field.

Perhaps it is that last point that for some reason causes people to become confused. Remember it is the attacker's position in relation to the center line that we are looking at.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

First of all, it is NOT an offense to be in an offside position, and your description is only of offside position. Until that player gets involved in play with a ball last touched or played by a teammate, the OSP has no relevance. Each touch of the ball by a member of his own team resets the OSP of any other player.