Question Number: 28792

Law 11 - Offside 9/27/2014

RE: Travel Under 14

Jake Russell of Hollywood, Maryland United States asks...

A kid on my team was in a offside position and a player on the other team passed the ball to him and the ref called him offsides. Was he correct?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi jack,
If everything in your description is correct then NO the referee is incorrect it is not possible to be guilty of an offside infringement if the opposition passes you the ball.

The only way your offside player is called for an offside is IF that pass was the result of a deliberate save where the ball was prevented from scoring and was directed towards the offside player. You make no mention of a shot so unlikely and of course IF in the opinion of the referee the ball was merely deflected or rebounded off the opposing player then offside is NOT reset.

The recent phrase inclusion in the offside description does seem to indicate that a 'deliberate play' will rest offside UNLESS a SAVE even if the ball is misplayed or redirected towards an opponent by accident. I believe the old way of looking at these types of events tended to be classified as deflections or rebounds in favour of the defence whereas now it is pushed in favour of the offence to stimulate goal production
Nor can the offside player can not do anything to trick the opponent, like call out for a pass pretending to be a team mate for example. Such an act is cautionable Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jake
As described this is not offside if the ball has been deliberately played by an opponent to a player in an offside position.
Now if the ball was deflected / rebounded off an opponent from a pass by a teammate to the player in an offside position then that would be an entirely different matter. In that case the player in an offside position has gained an advantage by being in that position and offside would be called.

Answer provided by Referee James Sowa

Jake,

As described, the attacker would NOT be guilty of an offside infraction as he did not receive the ball from a teammate. Now, keep in mind, even the deflection by another attacking player could put this attacker offside.

It is also possible that the AR was watching play and did not realize the ball was last played by the defense. It is unfortunate but it does happen. If the AR puts his flag up, the referee should have waved him down.