Question Number: 28514

Law 11 - Offside 6/17/2014

RE: rec Under 19

daniel of vienna, va usa asks...

Why do referees not apply advantage on offside calls? I never see it professionally, except to give goal kicks.
But if the defending team recovers the ball and can counter quickly, why wouldn't you apply an advantage? Thank you.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Thinking back, I think it's pretty uncommon for this to actually occur.

If it does then referees should certainly consider advantage. Bear in mind that referees shouldn't look too hard for advantage in a team's own defensive third of the field, as the field position is too risky. As such, it would have to be a very clear and significant advantage to even consider it.

The most common scenario where advantage is applied (aside from when the keeper catches the ball before the referee can blow the whistle) is accidental; it's when the referee misses the AR's flag for some time, but the defensive team gains control of the ball and moves upfield.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Daniel
Because referees rarely get the opportunity to do so. Advantage can be played on offside Law 11 but it is reasonably rare due to the nature of the offence. Most times the offside player has possession of the ball so there is no advantage available.
If there is a counter attack possible with the team in possession then the referee will allow advantage. The risk can be that if advantage does not accrue or goes pear shaped the consequences can cause problems for the game.
I believe there was one in a recent WC game where the defending team gained possession of the ball and was anxious to get on with play so the referee waved down the flag and played advantage. At that level stopping for the IDFK frustrates players as they don't want to go back to the free kick. Same would apply on a foul. Players don't want the free kick at certain times. Again I saw one in the WC where the ref called the foul. The ball had been passed some 8 yards to a team mate who then decided to take the free kick from that position by way of a 5 yard pass which the referee did not allow. Ball moved back the 8 yards to the correct location and the ball was then kicked back to where it came from with the 5 yard pass made again. Unnecessary interruption to the game.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Since an offside infringement only occurs when the player in offside position touches the ball or interferes with a defender, the notion of stopping play only when it is to the advantage of the other team is already built into the offside law. Moreover, even when the referee allows an advantage there is no flag. The AR either doesn't raise the flag or the referee waves down the flag with no advantage signal given.

In international matches, there are few unseen flags because of electronics, but in amateur matches the AR will bring the flag down after the defense gets clear possession of the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The only time I can think of advantage being applied is if the ball bounces off the offside player directly into the goalkeeper's hands. In many games, especially youth, having the ball in hand is better than in indirect kick.

Other than that, what generally happens is that the offside was not fully realized. Yes, the offside player was chasing the ball and was the only attacker who might get to the ball. But the ball went right to the goalkeeper - let's just keep going. A few yards lost from where the free kick might be taken are inconsequential when compared to the 'advantage' of keeping the game flowing.