Question Number: 27214

Law 11 - Offside 3/2/2013

RE: College

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

Hello my question is: Player A passes to Player B. Player B is in an offside position. Player B runs for this ball and defender kicks this ball out of bounds. Player B is not in contact with defender, but he is close to him (between 1 and 2 metres). Is it offside or corner kick? Or,when is it offside and when not? (in simmilar situations) Thanks!

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

This would likely be offside for interfering with an opponent, having been in an offside position when the ball was last played by a teammate. I'd have to see the play to determine if it was interference or just good play. Maybe the defender just made a mistake, or maybe the offside attacker pressured the defender into kicking the ball away from him and it went out of bounds. It is the second reason listed in Law 11 for making the offside call. (First is interfering with play, the 3rd is gaining an advantage - getting the ball from a rebound or deflection.)

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

This is really a grey area judgement call. The only possible reason he could be offside would be for interfering with an opponent. The Referee or Assistant Referee would have to decide the presence of the offside positioned player caused the opponent that received the ball to give up possession of the ball by kicking it out of play.
On the other hand, it could be viewed that the opponent controlled the ball with no interference from the offside positioned player and the kick out of play had nothing to do with the offside positioned player so there would be no offside offense

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Zluva
IFAB the body that makes the Laws of the Game has changed Law 11 the offside Law on the 2nd March 2013, Previously the advice on interfering with an opponent meant preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent's line of vision or movements or making a gesture or movement which, in the opinion of the referee, deceives or distracts an opponent. Deceives and distracts an opponent has now been replaced with " challenging an opponent for the ball.'
In your scenario has the opponent been prevented from playing the ball or has he been challenged by the player in an offside position?
The AR has to consider whether the defender might have perhaps played the ball differently had the player in an offside position been further away and at what distance has there been a challenge for the ball.