Question Number: 28529

Law 11 - Offside 6/19/2014

RE: Adult

pete of floral park, ny usa asks...

hi guys,

In the England v Uruguay world cup game. On the second goal for Uruguay was Suarez in an offside position when he received the ball? I know the ball flicked off Gerrard's head but i thought that you couldn't gain by being in an offside position when receiving the ball. Unless its a deliberate pass-back. And is the goalkeeper kicking the ball from his hands considered a goalkick because I know you cant be offside for that, thanks.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Pete
Suarez was in an onside position when the ball was kicked by his goalkeeper team mate out of his hands. Had Suarez been in an offside position at that time he would have been called offside.
As the ball was subsequently headed / touched on to him by Gerrard that could not be offside as Suarez was in an onside position at the last touch by a team mate.
Offside does apply from a goalkeeper's punt but not from a goal kick off the ground.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

He was onside at the time the ball was touched by his teammate. (His speed was such that it felt he must have been off to be so far away from the opponent).

The touch by the defender was not relevant in this case (except perhaps to slow the speed of the ball and exaggerate where Suarez must have been at the time of the kick). But, offside position is reset when the defender makes any deliberate play of the ball (not a deliberate save); it does not have to meet the requirements of a pass to the keeper.