Question Number: 27233

Law 11 - Offside 3/11/2013

RE: Select, competitive Under 17

Pat Diederich of Columbus, NE USA asks...

If a player takes a shot on goal with a teammates in an offside position but at the time did not figure in the play. The shot was deflected by the keeper to the player that was in the offside position. What is the call, if any? Thanks.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Pat
The player in an offside position when he interferes with play by touching the ball is called offside for 'gaining an advantage by being in that position'
The Laws of the Game state that 'Gaining an advantage by being in that position' means playing a ball that rebounds to a player 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 IDFK is taken from the position the player was in when the shot was taken by his team mate.
If a goal is scored directly from the shot there is no offside offence unless the player in an offside position interfered with an opponent. " ?Interfering with an opponent? means 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 or distracts an opponent" will be replaced on the 1st July 2013 by "challenging an opponent for the ball."
So in the goal scenario unless the PIOP stood in front of the goalkeeper preventing the goalkeeper from seeing the ball or prevented an opponent from moving towards the ball there would be no offence.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The player in offside position at the time of the shot is not eligible to play the ball even after it deflects off the cross-bar or the opponent (including the goalkeeper). If she touches the ball she will be called for offside.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

This is a classic example of 'Gaining an advantage by being in an offside position.' The goalkeeper has not controlled the ball as you say he has 'deflected' it. Therefore, offside has not reset and the offside positioned player may not participate in play.