Question Number: 27412

Law 11 - Offside 5/8/2013

RE: REC Under 11

Matthew Brown of Palo Alto, CA USA asks...

Attacker A1 dribbles past 2nd to last defender near the left end of the halfway line into a 1 on 1 with the goalkeeper, who moves out to about 12 yards out from the goal to meet A1. Attacker A2 is a half step behind, but out far right. As A1 draws close to the keeper, she sets up for a shot on goal from just outside the 18. A2, running in parallel, moves a half step offside. There's only 1 other defender in their half of the field, the one that A1 beat, and she's watching from near the left halfway line. I'm CR, with no ARs, even with the ball, with an excellent view abreast. The keeper is focused on A1 and does not notice A2 out far right. A1 shoots the ball past the flatfooted keeper. At the kick, A2 is offside. She angles to the goal following the ball, but does not touch it as it rolls into the goal. The keeper only notices A2 when she turns around to see the ball go into the goal. Was A2 guilty of an offside offense?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Matthew
A2 may be in an offside position but she has to meet one of the 3 offside criteria to be called offside. As A2 has not interfered with play nor gained an advatage by being in that position by touching the ball nor has A2 interfered with an opponent in this case the goalkeeper by preventing her from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the goalkeeper's line of vision or challenging the goalkeeper for the ball it cannot be offside.
Correct decision is to award the goal
IFAB, the law making body, has amended Law 11 at its AGM on the 2nd March 2013. The wording of ''making a gesture or movement which, in the opinion of the referee, deceives or distracts an opponent'' has been replaced by ''challenging an opponent for the ball'' The new wording will appear in the soon to be published 2013/2014 Law Book and it IMO clears up any confusion or incorrect interpretations of what is meant by gestures, movement, deceives and distracts.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Being in an offside position is not an offense. A2 did not interfere with play or opponent. No offside