Question Number: 29440

Law 11 - Offside 5/24/2015

RE: former player Adult

Cherokee of Van Nuys, Ca. USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 29204

Why is the player taking the penalty kick be allowed to touch,kick or head the ball for a goal?? If the keeper saves the PK and he puts it in, isn't he in an 'offside' position being the only player between the keeper and himself? In my opinion that's offside or double jeopardy to the save by the keeper, he is in an 'offside' position if he touches that live ball saved by keeper, don't know if offside laws states something about this, but it should be thought of if no answer, what do you think? Thanks..

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
There cannot be offside at a penalty kick as Law 14 does no allow it. All players except the goalkeeper must be behind the ball before the kick is taken so no player can be in an offside position at the moment of the kick. When the ball rebounds off the goalkeeper there is no possible offside as the ball has come off an opponent not a team mate. Offside only applies when the ball is played by a team mate and the last attacking player to touch the ball was the kicker. To quote Offside Law 11 ** A player in an offside position is only penalised if, at the moment the ball touches or is played by one of his team, he is, in the opinion of the referee, involved in active play...... **
The important words are *touches or is played by one of his team*. So while kicker is in an offside position the goalkeeper is not one of his team so there cannot be offside.
Now should a team mate of the kicker advance ahead of the ball with no 2nd opponent present and the kicker plays the ball to that team mate in an offside position then offside would apply.
I hope that helps

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Cherokee, You ask why? It is because he is permitted to do so, while you might think it unfair it is perfectly within the LOTG. There is NO conflict with Law 11 Offside and Law 14 The Penalty Kick
Law 11 Offside states very clearly when an opponent is in an offside position. The PK kicker is NOT in an offside position. If you read the applicable portion of LAW 11 verbatim you will note the word ...both.... the 2nd last opponent and the ...ball... itself as the defining points point of offside. Given the PK kicker is behind the ball as in the ball is closer to the opposing goal line there is no possibility of offside!
A player is in an offside position if:
• he is nearer to his opponents' goal line than ...both... the ball and the
second-last opponent
Given the last teammate to touch that ball is himself he is free to play a REBOUND off the keeper as he was ...NEVER... restricted by position. The PK kicker ...CAN NOT... play a ball from a rebound off the posts or crossbar unless it actually was touched by the keeper as well, as he would be guilty of a 2nd touch violation.
What ...COULD... occur is our PK player takes his shot, the keeper saves or the ball hits the woodwork, the ball bounces back out to the top of the PA and a ...TEAMMATE... of the PK kicker scores a goal or takes a shot but the PK kicker as the ball is ...NOW... last touched by a team mate we reset offside criteria, our pk kicker ...COULD... be in an offside position closer to goal than both ball and 2nd last opponent and if he was to say interfere with the keeper's line of sight, or interfere with play by redirecting the ball ,he could be held accountable for offside and a possible INDFK out awarded.


Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Cherokee,

For offside to be a consideration a second attacker must be involved. The ball needs to go from Attacker A to Attacker B. A player cannot put themselves offside by playing the ball to themselves, whether that's a chip past the defence or whether that's a deflection.

So, for offside to be relevant a teammate must be in front of the ball at the moment the ball is touched by the penalty kick taker - but the LOTG specifically states players can't stand in that position at a penalty kick. So, offside is impossible.

As soon as the kick is taken, the ball is in normal play. So if the keeper saves it but doesn't keep the ball in his hand, it's game on! Any player from either team is free to challenge it - that's just part of the challenge at a penalty kick.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

He is not in an offside position for several reasons. First he is not closer to the goal line than the ball. Second the ball is not played to him or touched to him by a teammate since he kicked it himself. Please review the criteria in Law 11.