Question Number: 28668

Law 11 - Offside 8/18/2014

RE: Professional Adult

Mike Spivy of Vancouver, WA USA asks...

Interesting scenario I saw in a MLS match over the weekend....

Portland Timbers & New England Revolution were playing. Around the 75 minute mark a ball was played to Timbers Forward (Maxi Urruti) around midfiel (on his attacking side of the pitch). Maxi immediately made a push forward and had another Timbers player running with him (Gaston Fernandez). Fernandez was CLEARLY offside when Maxi received the ball. Essentially what took place then was a 2 on 1 break vs. the keeper. Maxi was driving straight at the keeper and chose to play the ball to Fernandez who was wide open and just tapped the ball in for a goal. The play was ruled offside which didn't surprise me becuase I thought Fernandez offside during the entire run...he never was onside during the play in my opinion. However, all the commentary I've heard was related to the AR judging Fernandez to be offside at the time the ball was played to him (right at the moment where he tapped in the goal). One comment I heard specifically was that the play 'resets' at the moment the ball was played to Maxi so it didnt' matter that Fernandez was offside at that moment...(of course that argument is being made to defend the fact that the goal should have counted because he wasn't offside at the time when he tapped the ball in). It's hard to describe the full situaiton so I'm including a link to the video of the whole play (about 30 seconds). Even the commentators on the video are reflecting on the positioning of Fernandez when he taps it in....Am I totally confused about the offside rule here? I just don't think he ever was onside (and I'm a Timbers fan so believe me I hate the fact that he was called offside, but I just think he was).

http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-08-16-new-england-revolution-vs-portland-timbers/details/video/22997

Thanks.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
I don't believe there was an offside in this video. Urruti No 37 Green was clearly in an onside position when the ball was played through which then reset the offside. It made no difference that Green No 10 Fernandez was in an offside position at that time as he did not interfere with play by touching the ball or with an opponent by challenging for the ball or affecting line of sight. That offside consideration has now passed and No 10 was onside from the moment Urruti no 37 Green took "control"" of the ball.
When the ball was then played by No 37 Green to No 10 Green it looks to me that No 10 was in fact level with the ball when it was played which cannot be offside.
Unfortunately at speed and with the human eye it would have looked to the AR that No 10 was ahead of the ball when it was played. Perhaps he was correct? Even with technology it is extremely challenging call and one that I would have sympathy with the AR having to make.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Wow
Hi there Mike,

I concur with my colleague, Ref McHugh!
The thing about laying on a couch and stop frame, is it is much easier to break the situation down in real time. lol

I will grant the AR dispensation, it was a close decision, but in my opinion, it was wrong. The most obvious reason is because an announcer said it was the right decision and we all know pundits know squat about the laws! LOL

Principally because an AR is told repeatedly, 'WHEN IN DOUBT DO NOT WAVE IT ABOUT! FIFA AND IFAB have repeatedly and consistently tried to promote attacking soccer by rigidly defining the bare minimums when it comes to offside. OFFSIDE is a two part infringement and MUST BE a 100% yes or 100% no option on the first part (POSITION) to apply the 2nd part (INVOLVEMENT). The involvement was easy he played the ball into goal but that is not why he was adjudged offside the AR has decided
HE WAS OFFSIDE POSITIONED WHEN the BALL is slide over at the instant of the last touch by the team mate, Maxi Urruti !

The processing time for an AR to recognize the ball has just left the foot of the team mate, Maxi Urruti, and correlate THAT ball location with the exact blade of grass location of the receiving team mate, Fernandez, has several visual hiccups to overcome, sound, line of sight, visual reflexes and understanding the components. The AR is required to make an instantaneous decision, knowing movement on all fronts is occurring! I tell ARs to take a moment and process the freeze frame signal, to recognize that in transporting info to our central brain processors it takes up time and constant motion changes are occurring. If there is doubt chances are there is no offside to be considered!

When there are no 2nd last opponents to consider, the BALL itself is the imaginary line marker from which we draw a conclusion is he or is he not offside positioned!
The fact the receiving teammate is actually slightly ahead of the passer by his leaning forward motion is in fact a bit deceiving in this instance. It is his HEAD which is the furthest body part closest to the opposing goal, this is in law, the point to which we apply the offside imaginary line and see if it is even or behind (thus onside) or ahead (thus offside) of the outer edge of the ball's imaginary line, closest to the opposing goal line! The ball is way out in front of the passer by his furthest extended foot which in my opinion looks suspiciously even with the head of the leaning Fernandez!

I hold the opinion it was even and the goal could have stood if the AR had not raised his flag to declare otherwise. A decision, where upon video review, he likely would be receiving high praise in promoting good attacking soccer by excellent offside interpretation instead he is excused because it was close! sigh!
Cheers

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 28671