Question Number: 27970

Law 11 - Offside 11/4/2013

RE: Competetive Under 15

Paul Hammon of Bellingham, Washington USA asks...

If a forward is stood in front of the goal in an offside position but the ball goes over his head to another forward who is onside and scores, the first forward can be deemed not to be interfering with play and the goal is allowed. Following on, if a defender is down injured at the corner flag and plays an otherwise offside forward onside who scores, how can the injured defender at the corner flag be deemed to be interfering with play?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Paul
It is not an offence to be in an offside position. The player in an offside position has to do something more such as playing the ball or interfering with an opponent.
When the ball sails over a player in an offside position to a teammate in an onside position it is unlikely that there is an offside offence unless the player prevented an opponent for jumping for the ball such as through a challenge etc while in an offside position..
As regards the player down injured unfortunately the referee has to accept the positions of defenders on the field of play at that time. To do otherwise may encourage defenders who are poorly positioned to lay down 'injured' posing real difficulties for the game. If a player is injured then the referee needs to consider if play should be stopped. If it is not serious then play continues.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Defenders do not need to be involved in play when considering offside. They just need to be there, to establish the offside line.

It's the attackers that cannot participate in play if they are in an offside position when the ball is last played/touched by a teammate.