Question Number: 29457

Law 11 - Offside 5/31/2015

RE: Select

James Scaglione of Miamisburg, Ohio United States asks...

Offside is when a player is in an offside position and actively participates in play for the ball. Does turning to chase the ball with out any opponent around constitute calling offside? This being with out playing the ball or even being able to play the ball. This is just turning and showing intent to play. Shouldn't the flag be held and the play be followed in until active participation occurs or an imminent collision with the keeper is likely? I'm being instructed that the flag should be 'popped' as soon as the player turn or starts their run to prevent some stupid heroics from a defensive player. Which is correct

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi James,
The AR shouldn't raise the flag until he believes the whistle should be blown.
Strictly speaking, just running for the ball isn't enough to constitute active involvement in play - it's not preventing an opponent from playing the ball, and it's not touching or playing the ball.
But there are a few scenarios where we override this:
- When there is no chance of the ball going out or any other attacker getting the ball (ie if there is an onside player also running for the ball, you need to consider that the PIOP (Player In an Offside Position) may leave teh ball for that player). This is purely for convenience sake, and FIFA have allowed an early flag here
-When there's a potential 50-50 collision with the keeper (and you err heavily on the side of safety here). This prevents late tackles on the keeper which are not only particularly dangerous, but also tend to cause problems for the rest of the game as the keeper and striker just try for cheap shots on each other.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Technically the new interpretations of interfering with play or opponent are very limiting! You either physically contact the ball to interfere with play or challenge the opponent for ball possession when you are both within playing distance or block his line of sight forcing him to go around you, rather like impeding to some degree to be guilty of interfering with an opponent.
The flag should NOT be raised unless
(a) there was absolutely no chance the ball could exit the FOP
(b) no other team mate could possibly get to that ball,
(c) the offside opponent is trying to block the line of sight of a defender by cutting directly in front of him.
(d) or it looks like there might be a possible collision between the PIOP and a keeper/defender (remember a pursuit at top speed if players are approaching from different directions the distance closes rapidly)
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi James
Turning and showing movement towards the ball is not sufficient any longer for offside to be called. At one time it was deemed to be active play however current advice is that it is not. In the case where there is an onside player present the flag must definitely not be raised
There are though exceptions to every advice. In the case of the lone attacker who is going to play the ball there is little point in waiting until that happens. Also in the case of a possible collision between the player in an offside position and an opponent then the flag should be raised early to prevent that. The advice allows for early flags in those instances