Question Number: 27674

Law 11 - Offside 8/19/2013

RE: Adult

Scott of London, London London asks...

This question is a follow up to question 1591

Assume there are two attacking players one is offside and the other is onside. The attacking player which is offside with no defenders around him, goes to receive a though ball from midfield, when he realises that he is offside and just manages to move out of the way, so he doesn't touch the ball, doesn't stop an defending player from getting the ball and allowing the onside attacking player to run onto the ball.
Can the the ref or linesmen call offside because of interfering with play?

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

This should not be called offside. Moving toward the ball is not enough, and the current instruction is that the assistant referee should wait to see who touches the ball first when there are attackers moving from both onside and offside position.

Old habits, however, die hard. When assistant referees don't wait, and assume that the player in offside position will reach the ball, they put the flag up too early. It is hard to be an assistant referee because it requires extreme focus under pressure. (It used to be easier when, under long ago interpretations, the flag would go up when the player in offside position moved into the 'zone of play.')

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Scott
As Referee Wickham mentions old habits take a very long time to go away. Many still believe that being in an offside position and moving towards the ball is sufficient for offside to be called. Not so.

In the UK the exception to penalise the lone offside attacker before he plays or touches the ball has been too widely used in my opinion and that continues the notion that playing the ball or interfering with an opponent is not a requirement. That should only be used when it is 100% clear that he will play the ball or there is a danger of a collision between players.

In addition Law 11 has just been amended this year. To be offside the player in an offside position must touch the ball or challenge an opponent for the ball. Distraction which was the 'out' clause has now been removed.

In your example this is definitely not offside but I suspect it will be called 'incorrectly' though an early flag or dated interpretation being used.