Question Number: 27488

Law 11 - Offside 5/27/2013

RE: Rec Under 14

Derek Richardson of Manukau, Auckland New Zealand asks...

This question is a follow up to question 20393

Re offside or not

An attacking player (bob) was in an offside position when the ball was played forward by his team mate. The ball did not reach bob so in my opinion he was not active. The pass was partially intercepted by a defender but the ball continued to travel forward towards the goal and bob then ran onto the all and scored. Was bob offside? Can he be offside from what effectively was a back pass as the defender was last to touch the ball prior to bob.

Thanks

Derek

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

It all depends on what the defender did. Was it a controlled pass? Or was it a deflection?

This sounds more like a deflection, as you said the defender partially intercepted the pass and it continued to travel forward. So an offside call on bob is appropriate.

This is the 3rd method listed in Law 11 of becoming offside, gaining an advantage. It is defined as playing the ball after it rebounds or deflects off an opponent or the goal.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Derek
Law 11 has a clause which states that
'' "gaining an advantage by being in that position" means playing a ball that rebounds to him 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 key word is rebound which also includes deflections. So the referee has to determine if the partial interception was 'control' or whether it was a rebound / deflection. From your description I would expect that there was no control of the ball so it is offside when Bob touches the ball
A player in an offside position receiving the ball from an opponent, who deliberately plays the ball (except from a deliberate save), is not considered to have gained an advantage.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

You need to decide if the opponent that touched the ball controlled it. If no, then offside.