Question Number: 28230

Law 11 - Offside 3/3/2014

RE: rec Adult

peter babbage of hjørring, denmark asks...

Regarding offside, I have a couple of scenarios. Forward shoots from onside position, fellow forward is in an offside position. Defender on the line, the ball hits his foot and goes to the offside player. I assume no goal. However, if the defender actually clears the ball to the 'offside' player and he scores, is this then a goal? Is it purely a judgement call as to whether he played the ball or if it struck him?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Peter
As you know Law 11 “gaining an advantage by being in that position” means playing a ball
i. that rebounds or is deflected to him off the goalpost, crossbar or an opponent having been in an offside position
ii. that rebounds, is deflected or is played to him from a deliberate save by an opponent having been in an offside position
A player in an offside position receiving the ball from an opponent, who deliberately plays the ball, except from a deliberate save, is not considered to have gained an advantage so there is no offside.

However a defender on the line stopping the ball with his foot can be deemed to be a rebound, deflection or save and therefore it does not reset the offside when the ball goes to an opponent.
Most of these will be pretty clear cut offside as they will be last ditch dives, lunges resulting in a rebound, deflection or save where the ball goes to the player in an offside position. If it is a controlled play of the ball away that goes astray then that is just poor play which does reset offside.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The answer depends on how the referee views the contact by the defender. If it is a deflection, then offside should be called. If the defender deliberately plays the ball - makes a kick, even a kick that doesn't go in a good direction - then it is not offside, it is a gift to the opponent.