Question Number: 28198

Law 11 - Offside 2/22/2014

RE: Adult

Mike of Newcastle, Australia asks...

Attacker A is taking a throw in and throws the ball towards attacker B who is in an offside position, but the throw goes instead to a defender. Attacker B immediately tackles the defender.
Is he guilty of offside?
Several of my colleagues say 'no' because it was a throw in, but the LOTG say he is not offside if he receives the ball directly from a throw in. In this case he did not receive the ball and was in an offside position.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Mike
This is not offside. The last attacking player to touch the ball was Attacker A. When the defender touches the ball that changes nothing and Attacker B is entitled to challenge / touch the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Absolutely not. You are judged to be offside at the moment the ball touches a teammate. Since the attacker B was in an offside position at a throw in by a teammate, he cannot be penalized as there is not offside on a throw in. Once another teammate touches the ball, then his position would be evaluated again.

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