Question Number: 32544

Law 11 - Offside 6/25/2018

RE: rec, select

gary of nashua, nh usa asks...

Is a player who stepped out of bounds liable as a second to last defender?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Gary
Yes A defender off the field of play as part of dynamic play for example momentum, sliding off etc is placed on the goal line or the closest point on the touchline for offside purposes depending on what line he crossed.
Here is an example of a touchline situation
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ePFjXxbJdz0
Note the Blue player behind the goal who plays the Orange attacker onside so the goal was good.
Now Law 11 was updated to take account of injuries in situations such as this. Once the ball is cleared away upfield and the attack ends the defender if he stays off the FOP injured is no longer taken into account for offside as in the past.
If the player deliberately leaves the field to try to place attackers in an offside position he is also placed on either the goal line or nearest point on the touchline for offside purposes. The player is cautioned for unsporting behaviour at the next stoppage.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

If the Defender is out of the field off the touchline, then he is considered to be on the touchline closest to the point where he is off the field. If he is off the field behind the goal line, then he is considered to be even with the goal line.