Question Number: 19061

Law 11 - Offside 5/12/2008

RE: Competitive Under 14

Brian of Santa Cruz, ca US asks...

Another question about offside (singular). At a recent game I ARed I made a call that has been bothering me. The attacker in an offside position just past and near the defender is passed the ball. The defender recieves the ball and, naturally the player who was offside is now (figuratively speaking) on the players back challenging for the ball. And after a few seconds of continually challenging for the ball the attacker gets the ball and heads goalward. Flag up. In hindsight, my call was either late or incorrect. I think it was just late since it seemed to me that the offside player was interfering with play. On the other hand, the defender was clearly in possession of the ball and not fumbling the ball because of the offside player. I looked at ATR but I wasn't able to figure it out. Your opinions would be greatly appreciated.
For your amusement (like fingernails on a chalkboard), here is a quote I recently heard from a know-it-all parent on the sideline while I was watching my daughter play: "She wasn't that far offsides, I wouldn't have called it"

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Look in ATR under "gaining an advantage". If in your opinion the offside player was close enough to capitalize on the play immedieately, this would be one of those rare occasions where gaining an advantage does not refer to a rebound from goalposts, crossbar or keeper. I think your flag was probably late as the moment the offside player became involved, he should have been flagged.

Read other questions answered by Referee Keith Contarino

View Referee Keith Contarino profile

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Interfering with the opponent is in my opinion being close enough and or moving towards an opponent as they are trying to regain controled posession that no clear posession is truly established. Closing the distance at speed indicates collision possibilities and perhaps like in advantage where we wait a moment to see if their is one in this case we wait to see that control and posession are a done deal before we reset the criteria of offside involvement back to zero. I do agree that your flag needed to go up before or right at the moment of that very first challange of the ball if it was going to be called. If the defender had sufficent time to regain ball control and make choices then delayed to allow time for a previous offside opponent to challange the offside criteria are likely reset by then.
Cheers

Read other questions answered by Referee Richard Dawson

View Referee Richard Dawson profile