Question Number: 27015

Law 11 - Offside 11/17/2012

RE: Under 12

steve.rainbird of WINCHESTER, HAMPSHIRE United Kingdom asks...

I was running the line this morning and gave an offside. The ref didn't give it and said this was because it deflected off a defenders heel.

I think this should still have been offside.

What is the rule in this case?

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Steve, and thanks for taking the time to ask about this incident.

There is a misconception that a lot of people have that a defensive touch nullifies offside. This is incorrect.

If an attacker is in an offside position at the moment the ball is touched by a teammate, then even if it deflects off a defender before it reaches him he should still be penalised.

If he is not in an offside position when it's last touched by a teammate but is in an offside position when the defender touches it, then no offence has occurred, as it's the attacking touches that are important.

The laws of the game actually make specific reference to this sort of situation.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

A deflection off the defender does not affect offside position. Indeed, involvement in play by 'gaining an advantage from being in an offside position' is defined as touching the ball after it deflects off an opponent.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Steve
A deflection / rebound off an opponent does not reset offside. The only way that offside can be reset here is if the defender deliberately played the ball in a controlled manner. Deflecting of a heel does not do that.
Before 1978 it was not offside when a ball was last touched /played by a defender and then played by a player in an offside position. That was removed in 1979 to what we have today which is the "gaining an advantage by being in that position" clause.