Question Number: 27261

Law 11 - Offside 3/19/2013

RE: amateur Adult

Visham of United kingdom, Manchester asks...

If a goalkeeper is outside his penalty area at the center circle of his half and there are two defenders in the penalty area with one attacker nearer to the goal line than one of the defender and the other defender nearer to the goal line than the attacker. Will the attacker be penalised as offside offence if the ball is passed by another attacking player from the halfway line?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Visham
The Laws of the Game do not distinguish between outfield players and goalkeepers in Law 11 Offside.
If the attacker is is nearer to his opponents' goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent then he is in an offside position. Many times the goalkeeper is one opponent close to the goal line and offside is then determined by the 2nd last opponent. When the goalkeeper is not present then the assistant referee will look for the 2nd last opponent in this case one of the two defenders.
So as described the forward is an offside position and he will be penalised when he interferes with play.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Yes, if the attacker touches the ball (interferes with play) or somehow interferes with an opponent. Why? Because the attacker is in an offside position as he:
1. Is in the attacking half of the field
2. Is nearer the opposing goal line than the ball and,
3. Is nearer the opposing goal line than the next to last opponent.

The Laws do not mention the goalkeeper when discussing offside.