Question Number: 21556

Law 11 - Offside 6/18/2009

RE: Rec Under 15

Steve Chantilly Virgina of Chantilly, VA USA asks...

Did anyone see the Confederations cup game US vs Italy where the US own goal was called back because of an offside call?

The Italian player who was in an offside position didn't seem to be interfering with play and looked to be at least 4 yards away from the US player who deflected the ball into his own goal. Was that a bad call or am I missing something?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

This was likely IN THE OPINION OF THE REFEREE/AR IN THIS MATCH considered interfering with an opponent. Given the current USSF thinking on offside it is also likely for many to hold the opinion to award that goal.
This mistaken idea that interfering with play now requires ONLY a physical touch of the ball has prompted a great deal of unwarranted confusion! If there is ONLY an offside attacker in pursuit of ther ball and it is OBVIOUS he is playing it we can stop play. However this pursuit action on the part of the offside attacker must be looked at in context as to how to apply distract or deceve by movement or gesture when the opposing defender is not obstructed from getting to that ball.

The actions or thinking of opponents plays NO PART in an offside decision. WE do NOT reward mistakes or bad judgements by defenders by offering a bail out due to offside positioned opponents. The ONLY determination we make is WHAT did the OFFSIDE RESTRICTED PLAYER DO!

The AR and REFEREE must have decided in THEIR opinion the offside positioned player was ACTIVE and INVOLVED by distracting the defender with his moments in trying to participate on the through ball. It DOES NOT MATTER if the offside player was marginally off side positioned by an inch or a mile it is a BLACK and WHITE issue if the determination CAN CLEARLY be made!
The fact the defender was relieved his touch was not an own goal was a lucky break nothing more, if the AR or referee had decided the offside positioned striker was not involved in active play then the goal would stand.

Cheers


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Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Two things could have happened. The assistant referee raised the flag too soon because a player in offside position was moving toward the ball. Or, the assistant referee judged that the movement or gesture of the player in offside position interfered with the defender's play of the ball.

The first would be a mistake. Presence in an offside position, even when moving toward the ball, is not enough. Interfering with play generally requires touching the ball. The second would be a judgment call. Interfering with an opponent generally requires movement or gesture which interferes with the path or vision of the opponent. There has been signficant debate whether any effect on the defender is enough (is close presence enough to 'deceive' the opponent) or whether the player in offside position must affirmatively do something - waive, move into the path, mark or contact the defender. (Note: gaining an advantage is not relevant because it is defined as touching the ball after a rebound or deflection.)

If this had been a match in the US, however, the mechanics of the assistant referee should have been differerent. Under the USSF Guide To Procedures, when a goal is scored and the goal scorer is offside, the assistant should raise the flag. If a goal is scored and a foul has been committed or a player other than the goal scorer has interfered with an opponent from an offside position, the assistant referee must stands at attention. This indicates a problem with the goal, but permits the referee to make the final decision to award/not award a goal after consulting with assistant. In the US, the flag should have stayed down regardless of the assistant's judgment.



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