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Soccer Rules Changes 1580-2000


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Question Number: 27184

Law 11 - Offside 2/17/2013

RE: Amature Adult

Reza of Copenhagen, Copenhagen Denmark asks...

In a position with two attackers, and only goal keeper left from the other team, if the player who has the ball, passes the ball to the other attacker, where would be the offside line?
I mean the pass maker has the ball, but the ball isn't closer than his body to the line, do you consider the offside line from his body or from the ball itself?

I have added a picture here, if we consider that Dani Alves from Barcelona isn't present at his current position, in such situation, where would be the offside line considered from? ball or player's body?

http://marmolak.net/img.php?image=7329_untitled_t2p6.jpg

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Reza
Law 11 tells us that a player is in an offside position if he is nearer to his opponents' goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent in the opponents' half.
The key word is BOTH.
So where there is no second last opponent present the attacker will be in an offside position if he is ahead of the ball when it is played / touched to him.
In the picture you have provided the attacker inside the goal area if he is ahead of the ball (with Dani Alves not present) then he is in a offside position.
Here is a helpful teaching aid and Slide 10 refers to your question.
http://www.fifa.com/lotg/football/en/flash/start.html

I might add that ARs do not have the luxury of freeze frame, action replay to make a decision. They get one go based on play which at speed can be quite difficult. In the photo I would say that the player is ahead of the ball yet if it was on the kicker's left foot I would say not. That how tight that call is and as the ball position on tight call is always the most difficult for ARs to make.



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Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Many people forget that the first criterion for being in an offside position is to be closer to the goal line than the ball. Historically - a century or more ago - it was the only criterion.

Later the Laws were changed to add first 3 defenders, and now 2 defenders, as a second criterion for being in an offside position.

I'm not sure when the 3rd criterion, not being in your own half of the field, was added.

All 3 criteria must be present to be in an offside position.



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Offside Question?

Offside Explained by Chuck Fleischer & Richard Dawson, Former & Current Editor of AskTheRef

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