Question Number: 27522

Law 11 - Offside 6/13/2013

RE: Under 12

Michael Sullivan of Naperville, Illinois USA asks...

On a throw in near the goal line, attacking player A throws the ball to attacking player B, who is in an offside position. The inbound throw hits defender C in the leg, then rolls toward Player B, who is still in an offside position. Defender C did not make a controlled pass or have possession. Does the deflection off the defender end the throw in, and therefore should attacking player B now be considered offsides?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Michael
A player cannot be offside from a throw in or from a defection / deliberate play by an opponent at a throw in. It would only be offside if the deflection to Player B was off a team mate.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Not offside.

A simple way to approach the analysis is to note that on a throw-in, corner kick, or goal kick, we don't determine whether or not a player is in offside position until the ball is next touched by a teammate. As no teammate of the attacker has yet touched the ball in your example, every attacker is still eligible to play the ball.