Question Number: 26905

Law 11 - Offside 10/14/2012

RE: Competitive Under 14

Leigh of Maidstone, Kent UK asks...

A direct free kick was awarded just outside the box. I was running the line and saw two attacking players clearly in an offside position (1m or so) as the ball was struck.

The free kick/shot came back off the crossbar without being interfered with by any player or the goalie and in the following sequence the player that was offside scored.

Was I correct to flag him/them as the ball rebounded and was scored from the set piece?

The ref sided with me, disallowed the goal and awarded a free/goal kick from the goal line much to the disgust of the player who thought he'd scored.

Thank you!

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Leigh,

It sounds like your decision was absolutely correct. The Laws of the Game sspecifically cover scenarios where the ball has deflected off the crossbar, goalposts or an opponent an the player, who was in an offside position when the ball was last touched by a teammate, collects the ball. This is known in the LOTG as 'gaining an advantage by being in an offside position'.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Leigh
This is offside by 'gaining an advantage by being in that position'. This is how it is described in the Laws of the Game.
" Gaining an advantage by being in that position" means playing a ball that rebounds to him off a goalpost or the crossbar having been in an offside position or playing a ball that rebounds to him off an opponent having been in an offside position'

What happens though is that most players focus on the ball and rebound perhaps to the player who very well may be in an onside position by the time ball comes to him rather than seeing the original offside position when the ball was last played by a team mate. The AR will see that offside position and then wait to see what develops. Had the ball entered the goal directly from the shot then the goal may have been awarded as the players in an offside positions probably did not interfere with play or an opponent. However offside was not reset by the rebound and the correct call was made.

It also works the other way in that if the attacker is in an onside position when the ball is kicked and subsequently move to an offside position where he plays the ball from the rebound that is not offside even though it might look like offside.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

This is the classic definition of being offside by gaining an advantage by being in an offside position.
Excellent call. Keep up the good work.