Question Number: 27030

Law 11 - Offside 11/22/2012

RE: Under 15

Joe of Toronto, Ontario Canada asks...

This question is a follow up to question 7410

I have two questions.

1. If you are offside and a player sends a pass but when you receive it, you are onside. Would a ref call it?

2. If you are offside and the ball is kicked by the opposing team's defender and lands at your feet. Why is offside not called. This happened in the euro cup during the Croatia-Ireland game.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Joe
1. Yes you will be called offside and the IDFK will be taken from where you were positioned when the ball was played not from where you touched the ball.
2. Offside can only be called when the ball is played by a team mate not by an opponent. In the example you cite the ball was played by an opponent which is not offside. The only exception is where the ball deflects / rebounds off an opponent after being played by a team mate. The rebound touch in that situation by the opponent is not a deliberate play and it does not reset the offside. Always look on offside as a team offence. Only the team in possession of the ball can be called offside.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

1. Offside. You cannot reset your own offside considerations; an opponent or teammate must do that for you. You remain liable for offside until
- an opponent controls the ball
- a teammate plays/touches the ball when you are no longer in an offside position
- the ball goes out of play

2. It's not offside because offside is only considered when the ball is played/touched by a teammate. If an opponent kicks the ball to you, that's a gift. It would be offside only if it was a deflection or miskick.