Question Number: 28796

Law 11 - Offside 9/29/2014

RE: Competitive

Ed of Seattle, WA USA asks...

OFFSIDES ON DEFLECTED BALL FROM FREE KICK.

Scenario: Team taking direct kick 35 yards from goal. Defenders and Attackers lined up on edge of PA. At time of kick, three attackers legally break into PA behind defenders.

As kick is moving to goal, an attacker and defender still near 18 jump to play ball. Ball skims off one of the players' heads but continues towards goal where the attackers who moved there have opportunity to shoot on goal. Keeper gets to ball first and gains possession.

As the AR, I did not see which players' head the ball skimmed off of as I was paying closer attention to play near to goal and this was unexpected. All of this happened very quickly.

My Interpretation of Law 11: Let's assume the ball was played by one of the attackers that had legally moved forward on the free kick rather than the keeper gaining possession.

If the deflection was by the Defender, there would be no offsides infraction as the ball was last played by the attacker taking the free kick and the deflection by the defender does not reset the offsides position of the attackers.

If, however, the kick had skimmed off the attackers head, then, because the ball was last touched by an attacker, offsides position is now re-evaluated and the forward attackers would now be considered in an offside position and would be flagged for the infraction by gaining an advantage from their position.

Are my interpretations correct? Thankfully (for me) the keeper in this case rapidly gained possession so I didn't need to make a decision to flag or not to flag but I would like to be sure of how to make the call should I see this again.

To make matters harder, the 'deflection' was so light that it appeared to neither changed the trajectory or velocity of the ball - though I don't think that really should matter in the decision as there was touch.

Thanks for any comments.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

You are correct.

This happened at the last World Cup, Unfortunately, the AR raised the flag believing that an attacker for Mexico had headed the ball, Replay showed that it was a defender.
When the ball ends up in the back of the net, and the AR is not sure, the better mechanic is to stand at attention. The referee may have the better angle of view regarding who last touched the ball. A talk with the AR is better for the game (and the referee) than stopping play for an erroneous flag.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Ed
Yes you are correct. Also just waiting to see what happens can save a lot of problem. Here you did not need to do anything.
Also the contact on the ball by an attacker does not have to be significant just a touch. Also to reset the offside the defender player has to deliberately play the ball.

Answer provided by Referee James Sowa

Ed,

It sounds like you are correct here in your interpretation. This can be one of the toughest decisions for the AR to make. As Referee Wickham noted, if you are in doubt, stand at attention once the play was finished. The referee should realize that this means you have information to pass along. Keep in mind that if you are not 100% sure that there was a deflection, it is better to wait and see and communicate to the referee if necessary.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Ed,
I think you were spot on mate so good on you!
Offside is a simple premise with a difficult solution at times!

The primary understanding of offside requires the realization that it is comprised of two separate elements!

{1} POSITION which is NOT an offence but RESTRICTS the player from further involvement in active play

{2} INVOLVEMENT in active play by a restricted offside player creates an indfk infringement

Why is this hard to comprehend?
Confusion is created by the ever changing circumstances of offside
Position must be established as a 100% YES or 100% NO decision before we need concern ourselves to look further. I suggest you see it as FREEZE frame picture of ALL the participants, calculated at a single moment of time, when a ball is LAST touched by a team mate.

There must be an initial accurate positional assessment!

The inability to make a correct diagnosis at that critical moment can affect a match outcome! It's importance is magnified under pressure, complicated by the time delay sequence! The aptitude of an AR or REFEREE being able to see, to follow, to hear, to understand and apply their current level of knowledge to a complex series of interactions. The continual movement of the players, both defending and attacking, at speeds of 20 miles an hour, running in opposing directions, chasing a rolling, bouncing ball, moving at possibly 3x that speed, if not more, surrounding each decision!

I stress WHEN IN DOUBT, DO NOT WAVE IT ABOUT referring of course to NO FLAG as it applies to an uncertain YES or NO a positional offside decision. This also applies in cases of the actual flagging of the infringement, YES or NO is there 100% actual involvement by the offside player?

Determining unfair involvement is at times quite complex and controversial.

We now have two new phrases (deliberately plays the ball) and (challenging an opponent) to contend with. Deliberately plays the ball involves an ACTIUAL PHYSICAL TOUCH of the ball by the player to qualify it as a rest for offside

Whereas Challenging an opponent may not require a physical touch of the ball because the offside player interacts directly with the opponent which prevents the opponent from being able to play the ball fairly.

At first they seem straightforward but as we delve into the 'what ifs' we still find hazy thoughts about what is or is not a definitive offside call under certain circumstances.

A big issue with deliberately plays the ball is the touch of the ball can be mis played and incorrectly be determined as a deflection. It is my opinion it might be wise to consider using the same criteria for deliberate handling on what constitutes a deliberate play and differs from a rebound or deflection.

Deliberately playing the ball involves a conscious act of a player whereby his making contact with the ball with his feet, head or body was the result of him initiating a sequence of events in a timely manner ! The position or movement of the feet or head does not necessarily mean that there is a deliberate motion! The referee must take the following into consideration: - the DISTANCE or SPACE in which the player has the TIME to react! If there is inadequate time to prepare for a fast incoming ball, if the player is unaware, if the space to react is not sufficient, if the distance versus the speed of the incoming allows no real way to deliberately do anything , these IMPACTs of the ball upon the player, will likely be determined as rebounds or deflections

A big issue with challenging an opponent is how close we seem to be allowing an offside opponent to exert pressure. FIFA has plainly indicated that pressure is part of the game and not a reason to award offside unless the offside player actually gets in between the opponent and the ball or is within actual playing distance and trying to get to the ball!


The definitive context of how we apply our knowledge of offside criteria will still be held within the crucible of ITOOTR where we will oversee the attempts by offside restricted players to track a ball that is perilously close to an opponent BUT not restricting his movement, almost BUT just not actually touching the ball, nearly BUT just not actually interfering with the line of sight, BUT just shy of fully instituting a challenge for the ball! BUT it will still be obvious their very presence seems to put the keeper or defender off, as we try to remember what the keeper/defender thinks is unimportant. The keeper should get to the ball and the defender should clear the ball if they are in fact challenging for the ball let the referee worry if the actions of the offside player are affecting play. Raising the arm asking to go to the washroom serves no purpose. FIFA wants attacking football and while offside is still appositionally unwise, there will be players who adapt to the way referees will interpret the LOTG. Lets try to be as consistent as we can.

ONCE a player is Frozen as being in an offside position, he is restricted from active play, no matter what he does and where he goes, because NOTHING an offside restricted player 'ORP' can do on his own will change anything!

There are only 3 stages of play that could allow an offside restricted player (ORP) to rejoin active play.

One - a NEW teammate's touch of the ball
(1) Condition one requires the former offside restricted player to no longer be in an offside position when this new touch occurs. Offside reset occurs at ANY teammate touch of the ball deliberate or accidental creating a NEW phase of play with a new freeze frame snap shot of the new positioning of the players on the field

Two - opposing player deliberately plays/controls the ball
(2) Condition two must simply occur, offside position is not part of the equation because condition one no longer applies the former restricted offside player can legally contest ball possession if his opponents now have actually touched the ball with an unchallenged deliberate action/possession which frees a previously restricted offside positioned attacker to rejoin active play no matter his position on the field

There are 3 exceptions pertaining to gaining an advantage
If the opponent/defender touch of the ball is deemed in the opinion of the officials to be a
(a) - rebound = a ball that bounces back after striking a hard surface
(b) - deflection = a ball that alters it trajectory or being caused to change direction upon impact
(c) - deliberately played = a ball played with a conscious decision and realization of the consequences of action
these WILL NOT RESET nor change an attacking opponents' restricted offside status!

Three - the ball goes out of play
(3) Condition three requires a restart of play!
Three restarts are free from any offside criteria by either team (Throw-in, Corner kick, Goal kick) where position is NOT a factor at the moment of the kick
A NEW positional offside evaluation will occur ONLY from the team taking the kick be it indk or direct as there is a new touch of ball by the attacking team/or team mates. The opponents are exempt because condition two now applies



OFFSIDE LAW CHANGE IN FULL

Please view the interpretive video links below applicable to the changes in offside! The first one is a demonstration/teaching video supplied by FIFA! The second one is a series of MLS videos of recent offside decisions that highlight current offside thinking
(1) FIFA http://garcia-aranda.com/offsideifab/eng001.html


(2) MLS http://www.proreferees.com/news-offside-videos.php

'INTERFERING' what the law used to say

'interfering with play' means playing or touching the ball passed or touched by a team-mate.

'interfering with an opponent' means preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent's line of vision or movement or making a gesture or movement which, in the opinion of the referee, deceives or distracts an opponent.

INTERFERING what the law now says

'interfering with play' means playing or touching the ball passed or touched by a team-mate.

'interfering with an opponent' means preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent's line of vision or movement or challenging an opponent for the ball.

GAINING AN ADVANTAGE what the law used to say

'Gaining an advantage by being in that position' means playing a ball that rebounds to him off a goal post or the crossbar having been in an offside position or playing a ball that rebounds to him off an opponent having been in an offside position.

GAINING AN ADVANTAGE - what the law now says

'Gaining an advantage by being in that position' means playing a ball

1.That rebounds or is deflected to him off the goal post, crossbar or an opponent having been in an offside position.
2.That rebounds, is deflected or is played to him from a deliberate save by an opponent having been in an offside position.
3.A player in an offside position receiving the ball from an opponent, who deliberately plays the ball (except from a deliberate save), is not considered to have gained an advantage

It is worth noting that a deliberate save which prevents the goal from being scored and does NOT reset offside for the opponents, is a deliberate play, that if it occurs, ELSEWHERE on the field, it could in fact reset offside for the opponents