Question Number: 26990

Law 11 - Offside 11/7/2012

RE: Competitive Professional

Nasrul Syahruddin of Bontang, East Kalimantan Indonesia asks...

Refer to FIFA Laws of the Game 2012/2013, Law 11-Offside, 13-Gaining Advantage (Not Offside Offence), Page 112 :

'An attacker (C) is in an offside poisition, not interfering with an opponent, when a team-mate (A) passes the ball to player (B1) in an onside position who runs towards the opponents goal and passes the ball (B2) to team-mate (C). Attacker (C) cannot be penalised because when the ball was passed to him, he was in an onside position.'

My Question :
In the same situation, what if the attacker's (C) position is in (advance) front of player (B2) when received the ball from player (B2)..?
Is player (C) in offside position..?

best regards,
Nasrul

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Nasrul
Many thanks for your question.
It depends on the position of C when the ball was played / touched by B2. In the Laws of the Game example you cite, while C is ahead of the 2nd last defender, he is behind the ball at the feet of B2. A player is not in an offside position when he is behind the ball so he cannot be called offside when he touches the ball.
So to answer your question. If B2 is nearer to his opponents? goal line than BOTH the ball and the second-last opponents then he is in an offside position and he will be penalised for offside when he interferes with play that is touches the ball or he interferes with an opponent.
So if it was a similar situation to that as outlined in the Laws of the Game with the only change being that C was nearer to his opponents? goal line than the ball at B2 say close to the 6 yards line then that would be offside if C were to receive the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

You asked if it matters where C is positioned when he receives the ball. It does not.
The key issue is the position of an attacking player when a teammate last touched the ball. Offside position is determined when the ball is passed (or touched) by B2, not when the ball is received or played by C.