Question Number: 27392

Law 11 - Offside 5/5/2013

RE: travel-competetive Under 15

Eric of Huntington, NY Suffolk asks...

Player A1 has a breakaway, KeeperB comes outside of the 18 to play ball with feet. goalie clears ball with feet, deflecting off player A1 and ricochets to player A2 who is trailing the play. Player A1 is in an offsides position (now behind keeper and in between keeper and goal and also inside the 18) Player A2 shoots ball past player A1 into empty goal. I argued that the goal should be disallowed, as player A1 was involved in the play (breakaway and keeper playing ball)and that the player was in an offsides position inside of the 18. No other playes on B were involved in the play

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

You haven't described how A1 was involved in play after having been in an offside position. He didn't play the ball, so all that's left is interfering with an opponent. Only if A1 was in a position that blocked the goalkeeper's sight of or path to the ball would it be offside.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

How exactly was A1 involved in play? It is not an offense to be in an offside position. From what you describe it seems that A1 was simply standing there and did not interfere with play or an opponent.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Eric
This does not read to me as offside in any shape or form. What I take out of this is A1 is challenged by the goalkeeper who kicks the ball off A1 and the ball goes to A2 who is behind A1. No possibility of any offside so far. A2 shoot at goal and a goal is scored
A1 while he is an offside position cannot be called offside as
1 he has not interfered with play by touching the ball
and 2 he has not interfered with an opponent in this case the goalkeeper as he has not prevented the goalkeeper from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the line of vision or movements nor has A1 making a gesture or movement which, in the opinion of the referee, deceived or distracted the goalkeeper.
The fact that A1 is behind the goalkeeper rules out obstructing the GK's view and also eliminates interfering with the GK's movement nor is it a distraction as I suspect the GK went to save the shot from A2.

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