Offside Law & Discussion

Law 11 - Offside

Offside Position

  • A player is in an offside position if:
    • He is nearer to his opponent's goal line than both the ball and the second last opponent.
  • A player is not in an offside position if:
    • He is in his own half of the field of play.
    • He is level with the second last defender.
    • He is level with the last two opponents.

Offence

  • A player in an offside position is only penalised if, at the moment the ball touches or is played by one of his team, he is, in the opinion of the referee:
    • Interfering with play.

      • or
    • Interfering with an opponent.

      • or
    • Gaining an advantage by being in that position.

No Offence

  • There is no offside offence if a player receives the ball directly from:
    • A goal kick

      • or
    • A throw in

      • or
    • A corner kick.

 

Discussion

Following the various discussions in the media recently it is clear that there are a range of misunderstandings concerning the Offside Law and its application on the field of play at all levels of the game.

Offside Position

Firstly we need to establish clearly when a player is in an Offside Position. Let's first see what the Law says.

*** A player is in an offside position if he is nearer to his opponent's goal line than both the ball and the second last opponent.

In interpreting this on the field of play match officials, players, clubs, spectators and the media have to remember:
  • If the player is behind the ball he cannot be offside - so players are usually safe when the ball is cut back from the goal line
  • If the goalkeeper has come out a long way for a ball, there may need to be two other defenders in order for an attacker not to be in an offside position
  • If a player is nearer to his opponents goal line needs further explanation (see below)
The occasions when a player is not in an offside position are largely clearly understood:
  • *** If he is in his own half of the field of play
  • *** If he is level with the second last defender
  • *** If he is level with the last two defenders
Nearer to his opponents' goal line or level with the second last or last opponent.
  • The correct interpretation of this judgement is that the player's body and feet are taken into account. The easiest way to explain this is to consider the situation on the half way line.
    • If a player's feet are on the half way line I think we would all recognise that he is in his own half of the field of play. It is very difficult for a player in motion to be bolt upright so it is almost inevitable that his torso will be in the other half of the field - but that would not change our judgement.
  • When judging offside we should use the same criteria. The best advice for the match officials is therefore to consider the offside line in the same way as the half way line.
    • Players moving in opposite directions may look to be in a different line if we only consider their bodies. That is why it is important to concentrate on the body and the feet and decide whether attacking players are nearer their opponents' goal line - in which case they are in an offside position - or level with the opponents and not in an offside position.
      "Carry the centre line principle in your mind when judging."
When is the judgement made?
  • *** At the moment the ball touches or is played by one of his team
    This also causes incorrect challenges to referees' decisions by participants and spectators who are concentrating on the ball and then make their judgement when the player receives the ball. Whilst the ball is moving forwards the defender moves out and the attacker moves forward and sometimes the gap between them is enormous but the player was not in an offside position when the ball was released.
Now to the situation that caused a lot of discussion in 2003 English Premier League.
There is no doubt that when the ball was played towards goal from the free kick Van Nistlerooy was in an offside position. However, at its business meeting in September 2003 the International FA Board reconfirmed its commitment to attacking play and to reducing the number of goals cancelled out through offside judgements. The Board delivered a clear interpretation of involvement in active play in Offside situations.

This is the function of the International Board. The important thing to remember is that no change was made to the Law itself. The Board merely offered advice on its application. The emphasis was on deciding whether or not a player in an offside position was actively involved in play and therefore penalised.
Match Officials have been given the clear instruction not to decide too soon. Wait, Wait, Wait and See was the advice. I know the media and spectators often interpret this as "a late flag" but it is in the best interests of the game for the decision to be made only when the player becomes involved in active play. Better a late flag that is correct than a quick flag that is incorrect.

What then are the deciding factors? The Advice from the Board was as follows: How to interpret:
  • "*** Interfering with play"
    PLAYING OR TOUCHING a ball passed or touched by a team-mate.
  • "*** Interfering with an opponent"
    PREVENTING an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball. For example, by clearly obstructing the goal-keeper's line of vision or movements. Making a gesture or movement while standing in the path of the ball to DECEIVE OR DISTRACT AN OPPONENT.
  • "*** Gaining an advantage by being in that position'
    PLAYING A BALL that rebounds off a post or the crossbar having been in an offside position.
    PLAYING A BALL that rebounds off an opponent having been in an offside position.
    The referee's decision is final.
Van Nistlerooy was not interfering with play, as the ball did not reach him. He was not interfering with an opponent as he was beyond the defenders and not in their view. He did not gain an advantage by being in that position as the ball was intercepted before it got to him. Had the ball rebounded to him from the goal post, cross bar or a defender he would have been given offside.
By the time he received the ball and scored he was comfortably in an onside position when the ball came to him from Wes Brown.

John Baker, Head of Refereeing, The Football Association