Question Number: 27135

Law 11 - Offside 1/26/2013

RE: Select Under 14

Isao Sugano of Santa Barbara, California USA asks...

Similar questions:

1) A player is in offside position. Another attacker shoots and the ball deflects off of the opposing team (goalie or defender), and lands in front of the offside player who shoots. Is this an offside offense? According to the ball placement rule, they wouldn't be offside anymore because the ball is between them and the goal line. However, they were in offside position when their teammate shot.

2) A player is in offside position. Another attacker shoots and the ball deflects off of the goal, and lands in front of the offside player who then shoots. Should offsides be called?

3) A player is in offside position. The goalie takes the goal kick and kicks it directly to the offside player, who then intercepts the ball. Is this an offside offense?

I guess it all boils down to this: Can a player be called for offsides if they are in offsides position, and the last player to touch it is on the opposite team?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Isao
1. Offside. This condition is covered under Law 11 'gaining an advantage by being in that position' which 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. The key word is REBOUNDS. If the ball is deliberately played to the PIOP by an opponent then there is no offside

2. Offside. Same as 1 as both the frame of the goal and opponents are treated the same on a rebound or deflection in gaining an advantage by being in that position..

3. Not offside. The ball has been deliberately played to the player in an offside position by an opponent. It is not a rebound or deflection nor has the ball been last played by a team mate.

So yes a player in an offside position can be called offside in the specific situations where the ball is deflected nor a rebounded to that player off an opponent after a shot or play by a team mate.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

1. Offside. Only matters where player was when teammate played the ball
2. Offside. See #1
3. If you're referring to an opponent of the keeper taking the goal kick, there can be no offside as the only players to consider are the teammates of the keeper.