Question Number: 27197

Law 11 - Offside 2/24/2013

RE: Adult

Zluva of C.Budejovice, Czech Republic asks...

Hello, my question is: Player A passes to Player B which is in an offside position. Player B doesn´t attack the ball. Defender from rival team handels the ball and at this moment Player B attack him. Is it offside? Please explain more.(When a player in an offside position can to attack the defender with ball and when not?) Sorry for my bad english:-) Thank you for your answer!

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Zluva
It is not an offence to be in an offside position. So from your description the correct decision is a direct free kick for deliberate handling as Player B has not interfered with play by touching the ball nor has he interfered with an opponent.
This will be clarified shortly by IFAB the law making body as it is proposed to change the law that it will only be an offence when the player in an offside position challenges for the ball.
As regards the final part of your question the player in an offside position may challenge for the ball when the opponents have possession and control of the ball.
Remember that the referee will always penalise the first offence. In this case the first offence is the handling. If the offside happened first then that would be nullify the handling.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Hi Zluva
Your English is fine and your question a good one.
This depends on what occurred first. The opponent deliberately handled the ball. Play stops at that moment if called by the referee. There can be no offside offense after this.
Had the offside occurred first, then play stopped before the handling offense and offside would be punished