Question Number: 35864

Law 11 - Offside 1/17/2025

Zluvka of Liberec, Liberec Region Czech Republic asks...

This question is a follow up to question 35762

Hi, how would this hypothetical situation be handled if the player was only in an offside position and not in an offside position? I mean the solution via VAR. Thank you, Zluvka

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Zluvka
Not sure the basis of your question

Anyway Offside Law 11 is the same in all games whether VAR is present or not. The only difference is that VAR has the ability to review a freeze frame image of offside position at the moment the ball was played / touched by an attacking player. If the player is deemed to be in an offside position at that moment the video replay will show whether the player in an offside position went on to interfere with play or with an opponent.

As you know it is not an offence to be in an offside position and a player has to do something more by way of interfering with play or an opponent which is set out in Law11.

Where VAR is present assistant referees have been advised on tight decisions to keep the flag down until after the attack is completed so as to ensure that there is no raised flag in error. VAR can review the footage and make a more accurate determination based on positions at the moment the ball was played / touched by a team mate.

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See Question: 35865