Question Number: 27812

Law 11 - Offside 9/25/2013

RE: competetive Under 18

mark of merrimack, new hampshire USA asks...

A forward on my daughters team dribbled the ball up to the right corner of the field and got a cross off in to the box. A player (defender) from the opposing team jumped up in the box and headed the ball straight back to the feet of the player who got the cross off. The referee blew the whistle and stated the forward was offsides for receiveing the ball in an offside position. I stated to the referee that she could not be offside as the ball was played back to her from a player from the opposing team. He shook me off and since I'm just a parent on the sideline let it go, but he commented that I was wrong as he ran by.

Thanks

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Well Mark, you're right. What can we say, sometimes refs make mistakes.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Sounds like the referee forgot who made the original cross. The touch by the defender is irrelevant. The player who made the original kick is never offside when the ball rebounds back to her (whether from the defender or the goal). Offside position is judged when a teammate touches the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

The referee's wrong on that one a - a player cannot possibly be offside when they're the last attacker to touch the ball before the offending touch.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Mark
Really disappointed that the referee got this wrong. The player who crossed the ball was the last attacking player to touch the ball so she cannot be offside as the ball was played / touched to her by an opponent.
I would also say that even if it went to another attacking player in an offside position the description of the header does not read to me like a deflection or a rebound but a deliberate play of the ball so it could not even be 'gaining an advantage by being in an offside position.'
He could have left it at that but instead chose to get involed with the sideline which should not happen. Not only was he wrong but he was not willing to consider that he might be wrong. Disappointing.