Question Number: 29126

Law 11 - Offside 1/24/2015

RE: Recreational Adult

Russell Montgomery of Sydney, NSW Australia asks...

This question is a follow up to question 29116

Thank you Referees Wright, McHugh and Dawson.

Your collective comments help provide clarity.

With all this in mind, how does the disallowed goal in the recent Senegal v South Africa match stack up ?

Regards
Russell

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Russell
One can determine that White 9 challenged the goalkeeper for the ball so in the opinion of the referee that is interfering with an opponent. The scorer was certainly onside but a goal cannot be allowed if the attacking team has infringed the Laws. In this case the AR deemed the PIOP to have challenged for the ball which from his angle is what he would have observed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2BtDvTd6u4&t=88m16s

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Russell,
often on the Senegal free kicks I would see offside positions taken prior to the free kick. The tactical aspect of that is to convince defenders to stay up as your onside guy resets offside at the time of the header as a new touch.
The fact was at the time of the header #9 was offside positioned. Although the keeper spilled the ball to an onside attacker and the offside attacker did not block the line of sight he appeared to be challenging the keeper for possession . Challenging is active involvement in no further than a 2 step proximity to the opponent. I suspect interfering with an opponent was the correct call! Although there was a slim chance the shot may have glanced off one of the two players in front of goal before crossing the goal line which also would have annulled the goal. Amazing though they scored from the same thing minutes later lol
Cheers

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

See Question: 29134