Question Number: 28675

Law 11 - Offside 8/20/2014

RE: Varsity Boys High School

Reggie Delorenze of Cincinnati, Ohio USA asks...

Offside question:

Blue team clearly had 3 attackers running in an offside position (loosely marked by the defense) when a through ball is kicked. All 3 continued to run towards the ball. However, a 4th blue attacker comes sprinting from an Onside position and beats every one of them to the ball. Arent the original 3 attackers technically involved in the play because they continued to run and were drawing defenders that were marking them? (Even though they did not touch the ball)

In my defense, this is the quote from our last USSF re-certification meeting:

'Challenging an opponent for the ball is the act of the player moving toward the ball and causing the defender to react (or move). Such a challenge by a player in an offside position is the act of becoming actively involved by means of "interfering with an opponent". '

I never saw the offside attackers stop or start walking because they knew they were offside. In other words, they continued to play at full speed as though nothing was wrong. In addition, it appeared that this whole scenario was a purposeful strategy to confuse the defense (and the ref).

The coaches of the attacking team felt that they should not have been penalized because only the 4th attacker touched the ball. I suppose they could argue that the 3 offside attackers were only running to end line and not the ball.

Do you agree with my reasoning or am I missing something?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Reggie,
When onside and offside attackers are in the mix we are instructed to wait before raising a flag to see who makes it there first. While it is conceivable that an offside restricted player could impede a defender in getting to the ball so that his team mate, who is not restricted, gets to it first. Thereby creating an offside offence, I hold the opinion the USSF description you reference, is a misinterpretation by an out of date instructor. Both FIFA and IFAB have spent considerable effort to strip offside interpretations to bare essentials in an effort to promote attacking soccer.
It is ALWAYS a very bad idea for defenders to raise their hands asking to use the rest room while attackers are running all over the place. The thoughts and actions of defenders plays no part in a referee's determination of an offside offence! Defenders should always pursue the attackers whether they think they are offside or not because ONLY then might a referee actually be able to determine they were in fact prevented from getting to the ball BECAUSE of the actions of an offside restricted attacker! Interfering with an opponent is not chasing the ball but actually preventing his opponent from getting to it. As FIFA presents the laws or defines them, players will tactically adapt to how the referees are to enforce them! The attacking coach may well feel thwarted on a tactical level but your decision, your match, your reputation!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

No. The key to interfering with a defender is whether the attacker in offside position has interfered with the defender's ability to see or to play the ball.

The latest version of the USSF Advice To Referees states that a challenge for the ball 'includes physical proximity to the opponent while the ball is within playing distance. In other words, contesting for the ball must be actual not theoretical. Physical proximity can mean actual contact or being close enough to prevent or interfere with the opponent's ability to play the ball. In this regard, an attacker in an offside position merely running toward the ball is not by this behavior alone challenging the ball unless, in addition, the movement to the ball involves either contact with the opponent or interference with the movement of that opponent to play the ball.'

The definition of 'interfering with a defender' was recently changed to remove any reference to 'deceiving' the opponent because it was leading people to raise the flag in situations like you describe.

PLEASE NOTE: High school (NFHS) does not always follow the LOTG interpretations so it is possible that a high school instructor might teach something different than the USSF Advice To Referee.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Reggie
Law 11 was recently amended in July 2014 with a clearer wording on interfering with an opponent. It now states that it is preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponents line of vision or challenging an opponent for the ball.
There is a world of difference between running towards the ball and challenging for the ball. The Laws of the Game also tells us (page 113) that if a player in an offside position is running towards the ball along with an onside player the referee must wait to see who touches the ball to decide on offside.
As described this is not offside under the current interpretation of Law 11

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

See Question: 28678