Law - 11 - Offside

In early tactical systems, teams would field as many as eight forwards as the only means of advancing the ball was by dribbling or scrummaging. However, there was strong opposition to this approach from Sheffield, whose rules did not include offside. Differences were eventually resolved in the late 1860s when the FA made the momentous decision to adopt the three-player rule, where an attacker would be called offside if positioned in front of the third last defender.

It is perhaps the most radical change in the way the game has been played and from that moment on, passing became an integral part of football and to many the beautiful game was born. The number of goals increased, aided by the 1912 rule preventing goalkeepers from handling the ball outside the penalty area and another in 1920 banning offsides from throw-ins. In 1925, the three-player offside rule became a two-player one, representing another radical change that propelled the game further forward. (Source FIFA)

(a) if the offside is on the far side of the field of play to where the Assistant Referee is standing, he brings the flag downwards 45 degrees and points it in towards the field at an upward angle - indicating that the offside offence occurred on the far side of the field of play.
(b) if the offside is in the centre of the field of play, he brings the flag down so that it is pointing horizontally, straight inwards to the field of play - indicating that the offside offence occurred in the centre of the field of play.
(c) if the offside is on the near-side of the field of play, to where the Assistant Referee is standing, he brings the flag down so that it is pointing downwards towards the ground at a 45 degree angle to the ground - indicating that the offside occurred on the near-side of the field of play.

If the Referee wants to allow play to continue (for instance, if the defending team gain the advantage) he will on occasions overrule his Assistant Referees flag signal. He does this by rising an outstretched arm upwards and towards the Assistant Referee. The Assistant Referee will then drop his flag. A quick thumbs-up by the Referee is also used as a friendly acknowledgement to the Assistant Referee, and shows that the Assistant's offside flag was appreciated, but that the Referee wanted to keep play flowing in this instance. This action by the Referee allows play to flow without having to resort to unnecessary stoppages - and this is appreciated by the players and spectators. Instructions to this effect are normally given to the Assistant Referee by the Referee during his pre-match briefing to them.

The Assistant Referee should not indicate to players (either verbally or by hand motions) when an offside is NOT given. For example, if the Assistant Referee is running along the touchline, watching for offside, and the ball is passed by an attacker to a colleague who is on-side - the Assistant Referee should not use any 'play-on' indication to the players. Some Assistant Referees have been seen to wave players onwards, following a close on-side decision - this should not be done, as it can lead to confusion should the Referee then decide to blow for offside (or any other infringement) himself. In short - the Assistant Referee should only indicate when an offside offence HAS occurred - he should NOT indicate to players when an offside offence HAS NOT occurred. But - for very tight judgements where an Assistant Referee decides "not offside" (or the ball has not gone out of the field of play) a discreet hand signal may give valuable support to the Referee when the Referee makes eye-contact. 

To indicate that an attacker has been penalised for an offside offence, the Referee must blow his whistle hard. One loud medium length 'peep' will usually suffice - but if the Referee anticipates some questioning if his decision, a good tip is to blow the whistle loud and long. This drowns out the moans and groans, and makes it perfectly clear to players that the Referee is not going to change his mind!

The restart of play following a stoppage for an offside offence, is an indirect free kick to the defending team. The Referee indicates this by raising his arm vertically and retaining it in that position until the ball is touched by another player, or directly goes out of play, following the taking of the indirect free kick. The arm should be straight and not bent in any way. This can be difficult to achieve, especially when the Referee also has to maintain this signal whilst running to a new position to monitor play. The Referee does not necessarily have to blow his whistle to indicate that the defending team can take the offside indirect free kick - the kick is usually taken without the Referee having to make any further signal. The Referee may - from time to time - blow his whistle if he needs to delay the free kick taking place - for example, if a player requires treatment for an injury.

The ball must be placed on (or relatively near) to where the offside player was penalised - but do not be too fussy with the exact positioning of the ball for the free kick - keep play going when you can, and do not exasperate players by insisting that the ball must be placed on the exact blade of grass on which the attacking offender was standing when he was deemed to be offside. An offside offence is committed at the location that the offside player was, when the ball was passed to him, and not necessarily at the location where the offside player touches the ball.

Some Referees also like to use body language communicate to players, that an offside decision has been made. They do this by indicating with a to-and-fro sweeping action from touchline touch-line, with an outstretched, slightly downwards pointing arm and finger (similar to painting a fence with long side to side brush strokes! - the finger being the brush). This action can be likened to drawing an imaginary line to-and-fro between each touchline, along the imaginary line where the offside attacking player was standing. This signal is useful if the Referee is far from the play action when the offside is given by a Club Assistant Referee, and the players are not quite sure what the decision is.

Note - when reading the questions on this page, please keep in mind the principle shown in the following FIFA Questions & Answers Law 11 Question No. 9:

9. A player in an offside position but not interfering with any opponent runs towards the ball played by a team- mate. Must the referee wait until he touches the ball to penalise him?
No, the referee may penalise him if there is no other team- mate (in an onside position) who can play the ball. If there are other team- mates (in an onside position) who can get the ball, the referee must wait and see if the player in an offside position finally interferes with play by touching the ball.

Question 1: Surely, when defenders purposefully run up field to catch an attacker in an offside position - isn't this using 'trickery' and against the spirit of the game?

Answer 1: Offside manoeuvres by both sets of players, is part of the game, and not 'trickery' or against the spirit of the game. Offside is the most complex of all the Laws - yet it is the Law that makes football (soccer) the best game in the World. The intricacies of the Offside Law are used to the fullest effect by both participating teams, and are an integral - and very much accepted - part of the game. Without it, the game would never have developed to be so exciting. Changes to Law 11 (Offside) are rarely made. Only the slightest Law amendment will dramatically effect the play action. Law 11 has developed over the years to its finite state. The result of a match very often depends on when offsides are given (or not given). This is a very exciting part of the game, where even the honest mistakes made by the match officials add to the passion of all those involved. The ability to judge offside is no easy matter. The Referee and Assistant Referees have to take into account the moment the ball was played, who played it, the position of the players at that precise moment, and whether or not there was any involvement in active play.

By fairly manipulating Law 11, defenders can quickly move up field with the aim of catching attacking players offside. Conversely, attackers can use this manoeuvre to their advantage when timing their runs towards goal. The use of diagonal runs by oncoming attacking players often 'beats' the defenders' offside trap - attackers need to time their runs (past the second last defender) with finite precision at the moment the ball is kicked forwards by their team-mate. More experienced attackers can just listen for when the ball is kicked before making their run forwards (this trick is also used by the more experienced Assistant Referees when assessing offside), but it takes some bit of time to develop this skill. Coaches use the offside manoeuvre to try and outwit attackers and strike a balance between pushing up too far, and not pushing up far enough. Defenders have become very adept at waiting until the very last possible moment before stepping up the field to catch their opponents offside. This manoeuvre is carefully timed, so that the step up field is made before the attacking team plays the ball forward.

The speed of the converging attackers and defenders makes it very difficult for 'close' offside decisions to be made with consistent accuracy. If you consider that humans can run 100 yards in less than 10 seconds, it can only takes 1 second to run 10 yards (the distance across a normal sized room). When you have two sets of players (defenders and attackers) running in opposite directions at such a speed, it is no wonder that offsides are very often given wrongly. The human eye is not capable of deciphering such quick movements, particularly if you are also looking at other aspects of the game at the same time or there are a number of players bunched together in your line of sight. (So don't lose any sleep if you think you have made a wrong decision). This is what makes the game so exciting. And this is why the use of cameras to decide offside decisions should be strongly rejected. It is the mistakes made by humans (Referees and players) that actually make the game what it is. Take this element away, and football will never be the same.

Question 2: If a second last defending player moves beyond his goal line and steps off the field of play in order to place an attacking opponent in an offside position, is that attacking opponent then offside because he is nearer to his opponents' goal line than both the ball and the second last opponent?

Answer 2: No. The Referee allows play to continue and cautions the defender when the ball next goes out of play. The attacking player is not deemed offside if the second last defender steps off the field of play with the sole (unsporting) purpose to try and get the Referee to stop play for an offside against the attacker. The unsporting action by the defender was purposefully done by him, to place the attacker in an offside position. Play should be allowed to continue. The attacker in this instance had not infringed any of the Laws and should therefore not be penalised for being offside - he should not be punished for an act of trickery committed by the defending opponent. The Referee should assume that the defender is ON the field of play at the point on the goal line nearest to where he stepped outside the goal line boundary - thus putting the attacker onside. The defending player can be cautioned by the Referee (for unsporting behaviour, because he used a deliberate trick to circumvent the spirit of the game). The defending player can also be cautioned for leaving the field of play without receiving the Referee's permission. Common sense must be used by the Referee in instances of this nature where a player has used trickery to pervert the spirit of the Laws. If a goal is subsequently scored - then the goal counts. Like most instances in a match, the issue here is the defender's 'intention to use trickery' - and in this case, by purposefully stepping off the field of play, the defender's intention was to gain an advantage by circumventing Law 11. A defender still counts as a defender even if they purposefully step off the field of play at the goal line or the touchline. It is considered unsporting behaviour for a defender to try to put an attacker in an offside position by purposefully leaving the field of play.

Note: Although the area under the goal net is not part of the field of play, if a defender ends up standing in the goal area behind the goal line and under the goal net and behind the goalkeeper, and the ball is crossed into the goal area - the Referee should assume that the defender is ON the field of play at the point on the goal line between the goal posts, nearest to where he stepped outside the goal line under the net - thus putting any attackers onside.

The defending players above may actually commit three cautionable offences:

(a) Unsporting behaviour for using trickery.

(b) Leaving the field of play without obtaining the Referee's permission.

(c) Re-entering the field of play without obtaining the Referee's permission.

It is therefore possible for this player to be sent-off for least two cautionable offences.

The correct action to be taken is for play to be allowed to continue, and for the defender to be cautioned (or given a stern warning) when the ball next goes out of play (UK/RA).

Player 'A' standing outside of the field of play takes a corner kick and plays it short to nearby colleague 'B'.
Player 'A' does not re-enter the field of play immediately. The ball is stopped dead by colleague 'B', and the corner kick taker player 'A' re-enters the field and whips the ball into the goal area. To simplify things -  let us assume that there are no defenders on the goal line when the ball is stopped.  Should the Referee give offside against player 'A', who after taking the taking the corner kick, comes onto the field of play and rejoins the active play?

Answer 3: 
(i) When the kick is taken, the corner kick taker (player 'A') who is standing outside of the field of play was not in an offside position - because the ball is out of play, and play only resumes when the the ball  is touched and moves.
(ii) As soon as player 'A' touches and moves the ball, it comes into play and normal rules apply. At this point, player 'A' withdraws his foot from inside the field of play and purposefully remains totally outside of the field of play. Remember - player 'A' may have put even a small part of his foot into the field of play for the corner kick to be taken correctly. He is then obliged by the spirit of the game, to re-enter the field of play fairly. If he does not enter the field of play immediately, and is seeking to involve himself with active play at the appropriate moment, player 'A' is deemed to have gained an advantage by purposefully remaining outside of the field of play. In this instance, the Referee should assume that player 'A' is ON the field of play at the point on the goal line (or touch line) nearest to where he remains outside the field boundary.
(iii) When player 'A' re-enters the field of play, he has infringed the offside Law by:

If a team taking a corner kick decide to place two men outside the field of play, one left footer to swing it inwards, and one right footer to swing it outwards, there is nothing in the Laws to prevent them doing this. There is nothing in the Laws to state that only one person is allowed to leave the field of play when taking a corner kick. If the player who does not take the corner kick decides to stay out of the field of play, this is OK so long as he stays there and does not join in the active play immediately following the taking of the corner. Once the ball has moved away from the corner area, this player can enter the field of play, but should not involve himself in the ensuing play action - if he does, then he could be penalised for having gained an advantage by delaying his entry into the field of play.

Question 4: An attacking player is in an offside position and a colleague plays the ball towards him. Before the ball reaches the attacking player, a defender traps the ball with his feet and gains control of it. At what moment is the attacking player allowed to make a legal play for the ball again without being penalised for being in an offside position?

Answer 4: Offside is reset as soon as the defending player actually contacts the ball with some form of recognised control. When this happens, a second phase of play commences, and the attacking player is at liberty to make a play for the ball. If the defending player controls the ball, and then passes the ball back to his goalkeeper, and it is subsequently intercepted by the attacking player, then the attacking player has not committed any offside offence at the moment when the ball was passed back to his goalkeeper by the defender.

A defending player who shields the ball but does not touch it, cannot be said to be in control of the ball. The term "control" really does require a controlling contact.

Therefore, if the attacking player in this situation subsequently makes a play for the ball, he should be penalised for interfering with play. If in the original question, (instead of controlling the ball with his feet) the ball is headed back towards his goalkeeper by the defending player, then the attacking player should be penalised for offside if he makes a play for the ball. Heading the ball cannot be seen to be 'in control of the ball'. Therefore, when the original pass was made, the attacking player was offside, and should be penalised if he interferes with play.

Question 5: During a match, an attacker taking a throw-in, throws the ball to a colleague who is standing by the corner flag. All the defending players (except the goalkeeper) are much further up the field. Shouldn't the attacker by the corner flag be penalised for being offside?

Answer 5: No. Law 11 states that there is no offside offence committed if a player receives the ball directly from a throw-in (goal kick or a corner kick). In other words, a player cannot be offside if he receives the ball directly from a throw-in, goal kick or a corner kick.

Question 6: If an attacking player taking a corner, kicks the ball to a colleague standing ten yards away back up the touchline, and then immediately receives the ball back whilst remaining near the corner arc, is he offside?

Answer 6: If (immediately after the taking of the corner) the defending team all rush out up field beyond the line of the attacker who remains near the corner flag, then when the attacker's colleague passes to ball back to him, the corner kick taker will be in an offside position because he is nearer to the goal line than both the ball and the second last defender. The aim of the defending team in this situation, is to catch the corner kick taker offside as soon as the ball is returned to him from a colleague.

If the defenders stay in place guarding their goal line, then the attacker near the corner arc who has received the ball back from his colleague, is not in an offside position, because at the very least he will be level with the second last opponent, and therefore not offside in accordance with Law 11.

Offside is often given in these situations, when attackers fail to get back onside when the defending team tactically rushes out to put the corner kicker in an offside position (should the ball be returned to him). Offsides here, are often due to the inexperience of the players when taking 'short corners'. The corner kicker is in an offside position at the moment that a team-mate plays the ball back to him, and he is not (at least) level with the second last defender. He is then penalised for being offside, because he has received the ball in an offside position, regardless of the fact that he is still near the corner flag.

If there are no Assistant Referees to help him, the Referee should position himself to watch for these types of offsides. They can easily be missed during the taking of corner kicks. The best position during corner kicks (where the Referee does not have Assistant Referees) is to stand on the goal line about 10 yards away from the far goal post to where the corner is being taken. See the Positioning page for details.

If there are no Assistant Referees to help him, the Referee should also position himself carefully to watch for offsides that can easily be missed during the taking of throw-ins, when defending players quickly move up field and catch attacking players offside when the attacking thrower receives the ball back from a colleague. You cannot be offside from a throw-in, but if the colleague receiving the ball direct from a throw-in passes it immediately back to the thrower, but in the meantime, the defending players have come out as a unit, and have all moved up field past the position where the thrower is standing, then the thrower is offside as soon as his colleague passes the ball back to him.

Question 7: Can an attacking player be in an offside position if he standing outside of the touchline?

Answer 7: Although not specifically stipulated in the Laws of the Game, if an attacking player purposefully steps off the field of play to indicate to the Referee that he does not wish to take part in the current move, then this is no different to an attacking player in an offside position (on the field of play) putting his hands up to indicate the same thing. Most Referees will see these acts as 'not interfering with play' -and allow the move to continue. Nevertheless, offside is "in the opinion of the Referee", and another Referee, may take a different viewpoint.

Of course, if a player accidentally moves off the field of play (because of his momentum say) and it looks as though he wants to continue his involvement with the move by making his way back onto the field of play, then he should be penalised for having gained an advantage by being in that position. In this case, he is deemed to be offside as if were actually on the field of play instead of outside the touchline. The momentum of the game is such that players will travel outside of the touchline on occasions. This is not to say that they have left the field of play without the permission of the Referee - it's just an accepted part of the game.

Question 8: Is there anything to stop an attacking player remaining (for long periods during play) in an offside position say, 5 yards out from his opponents goal line, and on the edge of the opponents penalty area? What happens then, if an attacking onside colleague runs forward towards the goal with the ball, and when he is level with his team-mate (who has been standing still for some time on the edge of the penalty area) - passes the ball to him - and subsequently a goal is scored. Does the goal count, or should the static attacker be penalised for being offside?

Answer 8: There is nothing to stop an attacker remaining in this forward position near the goal. Law 11 was changed some years ago to state that it was not an offence in itself to be in an offside position, provided that (in the opinion of the Referee) at the moment the ball is played (or touched) by a colleague, the player standing in an offside position is not involved in active play by:

(a) interfering with play.

(b) interfering with an opponent, or

(c) gaining an advantage by being in that position.

The fact that the player was in an offside position earlier is irrelevant. It is only at the moment that the ball is played by a colleague, that offside is judged by the Referee.

By the letter of the Law, there is nothing to stop a player remaining in this forward position, provided that he does not infringe any of the Law 11 criteria above. It can be argued that by remaining in this position, the attacker is using trickery to circumvent the spirit of Law 11 - but there is nothing much that the Referee can do about it - because offside is only judged at the moment when the ball is played, and not before the ball has been played.

When Law 11 was first amended (to include this new offside interpretation), players were seen to be gaining an unfair advantage by purposefully delaying their return to an onside position, by making little or no attempt to get back up field into an onside position.

It could be argued that only if a player is making a genuine attempt to get back onside, and an attacking colleague subsequently runs up field with the ball and reaches a position where he puts his colleague in an onside position, that play should be allowed to continue if the ball is passed between these players - (so long as none of the above Law 11 criteria (a) (b) & (c) has been infringed when the ball is played towards that player).

But Law 11 does not allow the Referee to penalise a player just because he was standing in an offside position earlier in the attacking move. It is only when that player infringes the Offside Law 11 by being in an offside position when the ball is actually passed to him, that the Referee can penalise him for being offside.

Question 9: Following the award of an offside in the defending team's penalty area, the defending player's indirect free kick was intercepted by an attacking player before the ball had left the penalty area. The attacking player 'blasted' the ball into the net for a goal. But the Referee disallowed the goal -surely the attacking player could not have been in an offside position, and the goal should count?

Answer 9: Law 13 (Free Kicks) states that for any free kicks awarded to a defending team in its own penalty, the ball only comes into play when it is kicked directly beyond the penalty area. In this instance, the ball did not leave the penalty area (and therefore did not come into play) before it was intercepted by the attacker. The goal does not count, and the indirect free kick should be retaken by the defending team.

Note: The Referee should also be aware of goalkeepers taking free kicks in their own penalty area, and passing the ball a few yards alongside to a colleague who is also inside the penalty area. The free kick should be retaken, because the ball should not be touched by any another player until it has left the penalty area.

Question 10: Can an attacker be penalised for being offside if he runs past a defender after the ball was kicked beyond that defender by an attacking colleague?

Answer 10: Assuming that the defending goalkeeper is still in position in front of the attacker and the defender was the second last defender (for example, the defender and the defending goalkeeper), then the attacker can't possibly be offside. So long as - when the ball was kicked, the running attacker was not in an offside position but actually moved past the second last defender towards the goal once the ball was kicked forwards by his team-mate. In the opinion of the Referee, offside is judged at the MOMENT the ball is played.

Question 11: Can an attacking player be offside if he is in an offside position when his team-mate passes the ball to him and he touches it, but the pass had subsequently deflected off a defender before it reached the offside player?

Answer 11: Offside is judged at the MOMENT the ball is played. In this instance, the attacker was in an offside position at the moment when his colleague played the ball to him. It is immaterial whether the ball is subsequently deflected or inadvertently touched, or mis-kicked by a defender or not. The attacker should be penalised for being offside at the moment the pass was made to him, irrespective of how many deflections it takes on its way - an indirect free kick should be awarded to the defending team for offside by the attacker.

An offside attacker should also be penalised for being offside if during a pass made to him by a colleague, a defender jumps up to head the ball away but the ball deflects off the defender's head and travels onto the offside attacking player. The offside is not nullified just because the defender touches the ball. A defender would need to actually have control of the ball before the attacking player in the original offside position becomes onside again.

Question 12: If a pass made by a defending player, subsequently glances off the thigh of a first attacker who is in an onside position, and then rolls forwards on to a second attacking colleague in an offside position, who plays the ball when it reaches him - should the second attacker be penalised for being offside?

Answer 12: Yes: Law 11 clearly states that:

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, involved in active play by:

(a) interfering with play.

(b) interfering with an opponent, or

(c) gaining an advantage by being in that position.

In this case, the ball was TOUCHED by the first attacker before it deflected on to the second offside attacker who is then deemed to have interfered with play by touching the ball.

The wording in Law 11 specifically states "touches or is played by one of his team..."

Question 13: During an attack on goal, two attackers move with the ball towards the defending goalkeeper, all the other players are further up the field of play. Attacker 'A' has control of the ball. Attacker 'B' runs past the goalkeeper who is standing just inside his penalty area, and places himself ten yards out from the goal line between the goal posts when attacker 'A' shoots towards goal. The goalkeeper who is still in front of attacker 'A' on the edge of the penalty area makes an unsuccessful attempt to save the ball. The ball goes on towards the goal and is helped in by a touch from attacker 'B'. Should the goal count? There are no other players involved.

Answer 13: The goal should not count, because attacker 'B' was in an offside position at the moment that attacker 'A' passed the ball towards him (he was nearer to the goal line than both the ball and the second last defender). If the attacker 'B' had simply let the ball go past him into the goal, without touching it, then the goal would be legal - so long as attacker 'B' had not interfered with play, or distracted the goalkeeper.

Question 14: When an attacker shoots and scores a goal from outside of the penalty area - should an attacking colleague who is standing on the corner of the 6-yard goal area box, be penalised for being in an offside position when the goal is scored? There are no other players involved.

Answer 14: It all depends on whether the attacker standing on the corner of the goal area is involved in active play, by interfering with play or interfering in some way with the goalkeeper. In other words, if the attacker was in the line of sight (or near the line of site) of the goalkeeper when the shot is coming towards goal, then he has interfered with an opponent (the goalkeeper) by distracting him. In this instance, the goal should not count, and the restart is an indirect free kick to the defending team for the offside infringement.

If the attacker was standing on the left edge of the goal area, and the shot came in from the right hand side of the goal, then it can be argued that he was not involved with active play and therefore, he did not distract the goalkeeper, and should not be penalised for being offside - the goal counts in this instance, and the correct restart is a kick-off to the defending team in the centre circle.

Question 15: An offside right wing attacker is seen to be doing up his boot laces near the defending team's right side corner flag - miles away from the attacking play which is progressing down the defending team's left wing. The right wing attacker stands up after finishing tying up his laces, and stands still watching play develop over the far side of the field. A defending left full back (who is standing in the centre of the field) then sees this attacking player out of the corner of his eye, and runs over to mark him. In taking this action, the defending player has opened up a gap in the centre of his defence, that is entered by an unmarked onside attacking player who subsequently scores a headed goal from a flighted left wing cross. Should the goal be allowed to count, or did the right wing attacker interfere with the central defender by enticing him, out of the central position?

If the defending left back leaves the centre of the field, to mark an opponent who is not involved with active play, then the opponent cannot be penalised just because the defender makes a mistake with his positioning.  Had the left back defender stayed in a central position, he could have challenged for the left wing cross and probably prevented the headed goal from being scored.

Question 16: Following a challenge for the ball between an attacker and a defender on the edge of the penalty area, the ball was seen to squirm off one of the players and deflects towards a second attacker who is standing in an offside position near the penalty spot. It looked as though both of the players were taking a kick at the ball, at the same time whilst making the challenge, and at first, it appears as though the defender may have made contact a fraction of a second before the attacker but from a distance it looks as though they both made contact with the ball at the same time, causing it to deflect to the offside attacker. Should the Referee allow play to continue, or should he penalise the offside attacker for being in an offside position when the ball was deflected (touched) to him?

Answer 16: It all depends on the Referees perception, and (for want of a better term) his Default Automatic Method Navigator (D.A.M.N.) Because your damned if you do, and your damned if you don't!. The same goes with throw-ins, and corner/goal kicks. These types of decisions are probably the easiest to make, even though they are impossible to make! This may seem like a contradiction - but let me explain. Firstly, the Referee must recognise that there will be many times during each match, where it is impossible to make the correct decision. This is due to a number of factors. The speed of play, the distance between the incident and the Referee, the fitness of the Referee, whether there are players in the Referee's line of sight, the shielding of the ball by the players' bodies - and dare I say it "the Referee's eyesight"! It is also possible for a ball to be last touched at the same time by a player AND his opponent!

In situations of this type, the Referee can give the decision to the attacking team or he can give it to the defending team. Some Referees automatically give 'unsure' decisions to the defending team - this is how it has been done historically in the past. Some modern Referees give 'unsure' decisions to the attacking team, thus embodying a modern movement to give the attackers the advantage, therefore increasing the chances of a goal being scored - which in turn will increase the enjoyment of the spectators. (For example, if a Referee or an Assistant Referee is unsure whether an attacker is level or not with the second last defender when making an offside judgement, then the benefit of the doubt should go to the attacker.)

Referees are advised to chose one of the two D.A.M.N. methods to use when being unsure on which way to give a decision. Give it to the defending team, or give it to the attacking team. The important factor, is agreeing a default with yourself, and applying it in all situations where there is uncertainty. 
Hence - "these types of decisions are probably the easiest to make,"

Of course, the above advice also applies (more so) to the Assistant Referee. So the answer to the question is?..... there is no answer, it's up to you!

The Referee should not 'lose any sleep' worrying about whether he has made the correct decision or not during a game. Even if the Referee (or Assistant Referee) makes the wrong decision - it is the right and honest decision made at that time, as far as the match is concerned. Some decisions you win and some you lose!  Match incidents occur in a split second, and Referees' have to make instant decisions and continue onwards with the game. If a Referee shows any weakness or uncertainty when making decisions, the players, the crowd and the team officials will certainly make the most of it! Be firm and positive, and accept that you will make genuine honest mistakes - but accept that they are not made by you on purpose.

Question 17: During the taking of a corner kick, as soon as the kicker started to run towards the ball, the defending players (apart from the goalkeeper) all ran up field, and were at least level with the penalty spot when the ball was touched and kicked directly into the goal area. A second attacking player who had been standing on the 6 yard goal line headed the ball into the net for a goal. Why didn't the Referee blow for offside, surely the attacker was nearer to the opponents goal line than at least two of his opponents when the ball was kicked?

Answer 17: Law 11 states that it is not an offence (offside) if a player receives the ball directly from a corner kick. The second attacker received the ball directly from the corner kick before he scored, and it was not touched by another player, so it does not matter where the other players are when he touches the ball with his head. 

If in the same situation, the second attacker nods the ball to a third attacker who is standing two yards from the goal line in front of the goal posts, and this third attacker subsequently nods the ball into the goal - then the goal is not allowed. At the moment the second attacker touches the ball with his head, normal offside rules come into play. At that precise moment, the third attacker would have been in an offside position when the ball was touched to him by the second attacker. No goal, and an indirect free kick to the defending team is the correct decision for the later scenario.

Question 18: If a player, who suddenly realises that he is in an offside position, deliberately steps back into an onside position; and after he has done this, the bal is kicked to him by a team-mate. Should the Referee penalise him for being in an offside position in the first place?

Answer 18: No - is not an offence in itself to be in an offside position. By moving a few steps into an onside position, this player is then legally entitled to receive the pass from a colleague. At the moment the ball was passed to him, he was in an onside position.

If the pass was made before this player had moved into an onside position, then it is an offside offence, even if the player subsequently moves into an onside position as the ball is making its way towards him. Offside is given at the moment the ball is touched and played to him by a team-mate, and not when an offside player receives it.

Question 19: During a shot on goal, all of the attacking players are in an onside position. The ball rebounds back into play from the crossbar. The defending players all move forward. 
If the ball rebounds directly to one of the attacking players, who is now in an offside position (because of the movement of the defending players), should the Referee penalise this player for being offside?

Answer 19: No - because at the "moment" the ball was kicked towards goal, the attacking player who received the ball back from the crossbar, was in an onside position when the original shot was made.

If the attacking player who receives the ball directly back from the crossbar was in an offside position when the shot was made, then he must be penalised for being in an offside position (he had gained an advantage by being in that position). If the ball directly enters the goal instead of rebounding from the crossbar, then this player can only be penalised for being offside if he interferes with play, or if he interferes with an opponent (for example, if he was in the goalkeeper's line of sight as the ball was shot towards goal).

Question 20: During a match, a goalkeeper (standing in his own penalty area and who has possession of the ball in his hands), kicks the ball up field to an attacking colleague No. 11 who is standing on the edge of the opponent's penalty area down the other end of the field. All of the defending players (apart from the defending goalkeeper) have moved up field and are standing near the halfway line. The Assistant Referee signals for offside immediately after the ball is kicked and released from the goalkeeper’s hand. Surely he should wait to see if this player touches or plays the ball - after all, doesn't the Law say that it is not an offence in itself to be in an offside position?

Answer 20: As far as pure Law 11 is concerned, the offside attacker No. 11 should only be penalised if he gets involved with active play, by touching or playing the ball. It is not an offence to be in an offside position. The offence is getting involved with active play. 

But in reality, as soon as the Assistant Referee decides that (in his opinion) it becomes clear that the ball is going to be played by the offside attacking player (even though he does not actually touch it), the Assistant Referee will raise his flag.

If the ball looks as though it will travel safely to the defending goalkeeper, the Assistant Referee should allow the game to continue, and not signal for offside. 

Question 21: If a goalkeeper (during the taking of a goal kick) kicks the ball directly up field to an attacking colleague standing in an offside position in the opponent's goal area at the other end of the field, and the attacking player subsequently heads the ball into the opponents goal - is the goal legal, or should this player be penalised for being offside?

Answer 21: A player cannot be offside if he receives the ball directly from a goal kick (or a throw-in or a corner kick). In this instance, the ball did not touch any other player and the attacker received it directly from a goal kick. The attacker can not be penalised for being offside direct from a goal kick, and therefore the goal counts.

An attacking player can of course be penalised for offside if the ball is received by him directly when his goalkeeper kicks the ball from his hands or from a free kick.

It is sometimes difficult for an Assistant Referee who is watching for offside, to ascertain if the Referee has given a goal kick, or a direct free kick to the defending team in their goal area at the other end of the field. If the ball is directly received from a goal kick by an attacking player in an offside position, then he should not be penalised for being offside. Conversely, if the ball is directly received by an offside attacking player from a free kick (taken in that attacking player's own goal area) then he should be penalised for being offside. In these instances, to help his Assistant Referees, the Referee should use clear signals to differentiate between a goal kick and a free kick given in the goal areas.

Question.22: A player in an offside position was interfering with an opponent, just before the goal was scored. At first, the Referee did not see the Assistant Referee's offside signal. On noticing the raised flag from his Assistant, the Referee blew his whistle. The celebrating players thought that this indicated that a goal had been scored, but in fact, the whistle was to indicate that an offside infringement had occurred before the goal was scored. Thus nullifying the goal. Whilst the attacking players were celebrating, the defending team take a quick free kick and pass the ball to the other end of the field of play and score a goal. What should the Referee do?

Answer. 22: There is nothing in the Laws to prevent a team taking a quick free kick. The Referee should make a clear offside signal with his arm, immediately after he has blown his whistle, and allow play to continue. So long as no other infringement occurs, the goal could be allowed to count.

If the Referee gives a confusing signal (or no signal at all), although there is nothing in the Laws to prevent a team taking a quick free kick, it would not be within the 'spirit of the game'. In other words, if the Referee blows his whistle, and gives NO indication to the players, of why he has stopped play, then the players will be confused. This could result in the Referee (because of the incompetence of his signal) giving one team an unfair advantage over their opponents.

The Referee must always be fair to both teams. In relation to this question, play should not be allowed to continue until the celebrating players have been made aware of their mistaken perception that a goal had been allowed, and then they should be given proper time to reposition themselves.

To prevent confusion and to ensure 'fair play', a good Referee should deal with this incident in the following way.

(a) It is important when the ball enters the goal during a game, for the Referee to check with his Assistant Referee for any raised flag signals. The position of the Assistant Referee's flag will immediately tell the Referee that an offside infringement has occurred prior to the ball entering the goal.

(b) On seeing the Assistant Referee's offside flag signal, the Referee should blow his whistle to indicate a stoppage in play, and to gain the attention of all the players.

(c) The Referee should then immediately raise his arm to indicate that an indirect free kick to the defending team (and not a goal) has been awarded. At the same time, the Referee should shout out something like 'Offside lads! No goal'. These actions can be made by the Referee in less than a few seconds, and will minimise any confusion by the players - thus preventing any undue (premature) celebrating by the attacking team.

(d) If the Referee has taken all of these actions, thus making it perfectly clear to both teams, that the restart is an indirect free kick to the defending team, then there is nothing to stop a quick free kick being taken.

Question 23: Does there have to be daylight between the foremost attacking player and the second last defender before the attacker can be deemed to be in an offside position?

Answer 23: FA's Head of Refereeing John Baker puts the record straight
(Wednesday, 21 August 2002)
The FA's Head of Refereeing has moved to clarify recent suggestions that there has been a change in the offside law for this season. You may have heard people talking about the 'need for daylight' between an attacker and defender in order for an offside decision to be given this season but The FA's John Baker is keen to put the record straight here. 

"Absolutely nothing has changed with the offside law. It has been the same since 1992," he told TheFA.com this morning. "For some reason I have already heard three television commentators referring to a 'new directive' this season but the situation is exactly the same - if players are level, they are onside. But as soon as an attacker becomes closer to the goal line than the second last defender, he is in an offside position. So an attacker can still be in front of a defender without 'daylight' appearing and there still be an offside."

Note 2005: In the definition of offside position, "nearer to his opponent" goal line means that any part of his head, body or feet is nearer to his opponents' goal line than both the ball and the second last opponent. The arms are not included in this definition.

Question 24: Can player 'A' be penalised for being offside if a team-mate taking a direct free kick, kicks the ball directly to offside player 'A' who heads the ball, whilst that player is standing in an offside position. In other words - can you be offside if you receive the ball directly, from a direct free kick taken from a player of your own side?

Answer 24: In restart situations, a player in an offside position cannot be penalised for being offside, is when he receives the ball directly from a goal kick, a corner kick or a throw-in. When any free kick is taken, an offside player receiving the ball directly from a colleague, should be penalised for being offside. 

So the answer to the question is:

If the first attacker has not interfered with play or not interfered with an opponent, then play should be allowed to continue, and the first attacker should not be penalised. If the second attacker runs past the first attacker and scores a goal, or if the second attacker immediately shoots and scores a goal (and the first attacker is not involved with active play), then the goal should count - so long as the first attacker had not effected play in any way. It is NOT an offence to be in an offside position.

Question 26: Where should the Assistant Referee place himself to judge for offside in the following instances?

(a) An defender's momentum, takes him out over the goal line where he remains injured off the field of play.

Answer (a): A player leaving the field during play because of his momentum, is not deemed to have left without the Referee's permission and can therefore re-enter without the Referee's permission. However, this player is clearly injured, awaiting treatment off the field of play. He should be deemed to have left the field of play and will require the Referee's permission to re-enter after he has received treatment. As the injured player is off the field of play, he should not be considered in any offside decisions. The Assistant Referee should move up field in line with the next second last defender remaining on the field of play. The injured player should be discounted when deciding offside in this scenario.

On occasions like this, the Referee will need to decide when a player is genuinely injured (or not!). There will probably be no time for the Referee to actually give permission for this player to be treated - because he will be concentrating closely on the ensuing match action. The Referee will need to decide if the player is genuinely injured, or if he is feigning an injury in the hope that an offside will be given against an opponent. It is a very difficult decision for the Referee to make whilst primarily concentrating on the match action.

(b) An defender's momentum, takes him out over the goal line but he is not injured.

Answer (b): A player leaving the field of play because of his momentum during play, is not deemed to have left without the Referee's permission and can therefore re-enter without the Referee's permission. In this instance, although the defender is off the field of play, (and until he returns to the field of play), he should be deemed to be standing on the goal-line (in the field of play) when considering offside. The Assistant Referee should stand in line with the last opponent on the field of play (which in this case will probably be the defending goalkeeper). When deciding offside in this scenario, the two last defending opponents are the defender who has travelled off the field of play, and the defending player who is nearest to the goal line on the field of play (which in all probability will be the goalkeeper).

If an uninjured defender purposefully remains off the field in an attempt to place an attacker in an offside position, then that defender should also be deemed to be standing on the goal-line (on the field of play) when considering offside. Trickery of this nature circumvents the spirit of the offside Law.

(c) An injured defending player is lying down on the field of play, near his goal line, and by the corner flag.

Answer (c): Regardless of whether the injured player is involved in play or not, and irrespective of his position; if an injured defender remains on the field of play (and play continues) he is still a legal player, and should be counted as such when making offside decisions. The Assistant Referee will need to count the injured defender as one of the two second last defenders, and take up his position accordingly (either alongside the injured player - if the injured player is the second last defender, or alongside the second last defender, if the injured player is on - or near - the goal line and is the last defender).

Question 27: Is it called offsides or offside?

Answer 29: No. It is not an offence to be in an offside position. The attacker did not receive the ball from a team-mate. Because the attacker received the ball direct from an opponent, he should not be penalised for being offside. A player cannot be penalised for being offside when he receives the ball directly from an opponent who had been in control of the ball.

A player cannot be penalised for being offside (whatever his position is) when he receives the ball from an opponent.

Question 30: An attacker is 30 yards inside his own half, and he passes the ball towards an attacking colleague who is in an offside position 10 yards inside the opponents' half. The offside attacker runs back into his own half, and gains possession of the ball before it has crossed into the opponents' half. Law 11 states that a player can only be offside in his opponents half - so should the Referee allow play to continue?

Answer 30: Definitely not. Offside is determined at the exact moment when the ball was touched or kicked by a team-mate. At the moment the ball was passed by his team-mate, the furthermost attacker was in his opponents' half, and in an offside position. It does not matter where he subsequently touches the ball. It is the position he was at, when the ball was passed to him that counts. At the moment the ball was passed, the furthermost attacker was in an offside position, and had therefore interfered with play whilst being in that offside position within his opponents' half. An indirect free kick should be awarded to the opposition, at the place where the offside attacker was, when the ball was passed to him by the team-mate. The indirect free kick should not take place in the offside attacker's own half, where he subsequently interfered with play by touching the ball - it must be taken at the spot where he was judged to in an offside position, at the very moment the ball was played to him by a team-mate.

Question 31: During a match, the Referee seemed to be the only person in the stadium that thought that the attacking player was offside. Surely, if a player is 10 yards on-side, then he should not be penalised for being offside?

Answer 31: It does not matter whether this player was factually in an onside position or factually in an offside position. The Referee deemed him to be offside - and the Referee is the ONLY opinion that counts - even though he may well have made the wrong decision.

Law 11 clearly states that:

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, involved in active play by:

(a) interfering with play.

(b) interfering with an opponent, or

(c) gaining an advantage by being in that position.

So there is nothing the coach, manager, spectators, Club Linesman (and even Assistant Referees) can do, if the Referee thinks otherwise! Even if it is blatantly obvious to everyone except the Referee that the attacker was definitely 10 yards onside.

Question 32: Two attacking players with the ball, run past the second last opponent, to a position where only the opposing goalkeeper is between them and the opponents' goal line. One of the attackers shoots the ball towards goal. The ball subsequently rebounds off the crossbar, and falls to the other attacker who shoots and directly scores a goal. Should the goal count or not?

Answer 32: If the goal scorer was further from the goal line than the ball (in other words - behind or in line with the ball), when the ball was first shot towards goal, or level with the ball - then the goal counts. He was therefore not in an offside position when the first shot towards goal was made. In other words " he was NOT nearer to his opponents' goal line than both the ball and the second last opponent" when the ball was first shot towards goal by this team mate.

If the goal scorer was nearer to the goal line than the ball (in other words, in front of the ball), when the ball was first shot towards goal by his team mate - then he is offside and the goal does not count. He was therefore in an offside position when the first shot towards goal was made. In other words " he was nearer to his opponents' goal line than both the ball and the second last opponent" when the ball was first shot towards goal by this team mate, and had gained an advantage by being in that offside position.

Question 33: In a recent game, an offside attacking player 'A' received the ball near the goal line and crossed it into the goal area. My Assistant Referee flagged player 'A' for being offside before he crossed the ball. I (the Referee) missed the flag (and so did all the players on the field). The cross came into the middle where a defender clearly pushed an attacking player 'B' - and I (the Referee) called a penalty kick.

What should I (the Referee) do in the following two scenarios based on the question above?

Scenario 1
I eventually notice the offside flag. I award the offside free kick; but do I do anything about the push? I was not going to give a yellow before Do I show one now? Do I just have a word with the defender? How do I appease the attacker who was clearly fouled (do I even try)?

Scenario 2 (what actually happened)
The assistant decided that since there are only a few minutes left to play, and the attacking team is up 4-1, to just put his flag down, let the penalty kick stand, and just get out of what has been a rough game (nobody noticed the offside flag at any time). Although not within the rules, was it the right thing for the Assistant to do?

Answer 33:  If your assistant was a qualified Assistant Referee, then he should have kept his flag up until you had noticed it. It is very important in these types of situations that the truth is finally arrived at! Referees (and Assistant Referees) must retain their honesty at all times.

In your scenario, the offside was the first offence, and as such, you (the Referee) are entitled (by Law 5) to change your decision on the advice of an Assistant Referee (so long as play has not been restarted).

If your assistant was a Club Assistant, then you should decide yourself, whether the offside signal was correct in your opinion or not. And the make your own mind whether to accept it or not.

Pushing an opponent is not a mandatory yellow card. Awarding a yellow card for pushing depends on the severity of the offence, and the effect it had on the opposing team.

Even is a team is wining 4-1, the additional goal could make all the difference in a promotion or relegation issue. It is therefore important that when making decisions on the filed of play, that you make them consistently as if the score is always 0-0.

Don't worry too much about appeasing players, because you can only appease one team at a time! If you made the correct offside indirect free kick restart, players would instinctively know that you have decided to penalise the first offside offence rather than penalty. Players are not as daft as they make themselves out to be!

Answer 34: During a Referee's pre-match brief to his Assistant Referees, most Referees will give FULL responsibility to his Assistant Referees, for making offside decisions. Assistant Referees are nearly always in a better position than the Referee to judge offside. Assistant Referees are fully trained Referees, and should be capable, and given the responsibility for making the offside decisions. If they get an offside decision wrong (which they do from time to time) then the Referee should only overrule them, if the offside decision is definitely incorrect. 

Question 35: An attacking player falls down injured just to one side, and very near one of his opponents goal posts. Play continues, and all of the players (except the defending goalkeeper) run up field and are at least level with the edge of the defending teams' penalty area. Another attacker then gains possession of the ball and shoots it towards goal. The ball is just about to travel out for a goal kick, when it hits the back of the injured attacker (who is still lying down just to the side of the goal) and is deflected into the goal. Should the goal count, or is the injured player interfering with play, even though he is not aware of where the ball is at any time during the move?

Answer 35: The injured player is in an offside position, and interferes with play by touching the ball. In other words, an illegal goal was scored because the injured player was involved in active play when he was in an offside position. It makes no difference if this player could move or not. The goal should be disallowed, and an indirect free kick for offside awarded to the defending team.

Question 36: Whilst I was watching a local park match, I noticed that when a player was in an offside position at the far post near the goal area, and a team-mate fired in a shot towards goal which the goalkeeper saved. The Referee did not penalise the far post attacker for being offside, and allowed play to continue - yet, when I turned around to watch another match under way on an adjacent pitch, the Referee in that game blew his whistle and penalised an attacker for being in the same type of position. Which Referee made the correct decision?

Answer 36: Actually, both Referees could have made a correct decision. It is not an offence in itself to be in an offside position. In this identical situation in the two different matches, both of the respective Referees had to make a split-second decision on whether the far post attacker had involved himself in active play when in offside position. Each Referee will have differing opinions as to whether the far post attacker had interfered with play or interfered with an opponent. It may be for example, that the far post attacker illegally called for the ball, by shouting "leave it" perhaps, which distracted the goalkeeper, this action is unsporting, and interferes with the opponent - and maybe that is why play was stopped in one of the situations. Some Referees like to allow play to flow with the minimum of unnecessary stoppages, and some Referees like to be more careful during game actions near the goal area - and will blow for offside if there is any slight involvement in the play action.

Question 37: Once a player has placed himself in an offside position, what action does he have to take to become onside again?

Answer 37: Firstly, it is not an offence in itself to be in an offside position. So long as enough time has elapsed to cancel out any advantage he may have gained by being in that offside position - a player should not be penalised for being offside position once his own movement, or the movement of other players or the ball, has placed him back in an onside position.

There are several things this player can do to become onside:

(a) Move into his own half of the field of play.

(b) Make a positive move to get back in line with a colleague who has possession of the ball - or move further from the oppositions' goal line than the ball. He becomes onside when he has reached this position. If a player purposefully waits in an offside position to allow play to catch up with him, he should not then be penalised for being offside if the ball is then passed to him.

(c) Step off the field of play and clearly indicate that he is momentarily no longer taking part in the current active attacking phase of play. He only then becomes onside when play has reached his level - but he should not participate in active play if the stepping off the field was done to enable him to step back on and actively join the attacking action. This is deemed as 'trickery; and he should then be penalised for being offside and interfering with play.

(d) Move to a position where he is further to the opponents' goal line than the second last opponent - or level with the second last defender or level with both of the last two opponents. He also becomes onside if the positions of the defending opponents change so that he is no longer in an offside position when the ball is next played forwards by one of his team-mates. He also becomes onside if he receives the ball from an opponent, after that opponent had controlled, played or gained possession of the ball.

(e) If the ball goes out of play. For example - if the ball goes out of play for a throw-in; the player in the offside position then becomes onside - because you cannot be offside from a throw-in.

(f) The player makes his way to a position where he is not in front of the ball when it is next played forward by one of his team-mates.

Question 38: Is it possible for a player who gains (and retains) possession of the ball in his own half to be then penalised for being offside when he runs with the ball to any position within his opponents' half.

Answer 38: No. Offside is given at the moment the ball is touched or played by a team-mate. In this instance, the player with the ball was in his own half, and is therefore not offside (Law 11 states that a player cannot be offside if he is in his own half of the field of play). This player is then permitted to take the ball anywhere on the field of play, without danger of being penalised for being offside. When this player subsequently moves into his opponents' half, he is not infringing any of the offside Laws - as long as he retains possession of the ball. He can only be deemed offside in his opponents' half if he releases the ball to a colleague, and then receives it directly back whilst being in an offside position. For example, if this player runs down to the opponents goal line and cuts the ball back sharply to an attacking colleague, and that attacking colleague directly returns the ball back to the first attacker who is now nearer the opponents' goal line and in an offside position, then the first attacker must be penalised of being offside. As soon as the first attacker releases possession of the ball, he becomes another 'of-the-ball' attacker.

Question 39: Just exactly where should the ball be placed after an attacker has been penalised for being offside?

Answer 39: Law 11 states that "for any offside infringement, the Referee awards an indirect free kick to the opposing team to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred"  i.e. where the offside attacker was standing when he was deemed to be offside. The kick should NOT be taken from the place where the second-to-last defender was; or where the offside player touched the ball. Offside is given at the moment the ball is touched or played by a team-mate. The ball must be placed on (or relatively near) to where the penalised offside player was when the ball was touched or passed to him by a colleague - but do not be too fussy with the exact positioning of the ball for the free kick - keep play going when you can, and do not exasperate players by insisting that the ball must be placed on the exact blade of grass on which the offender was standing when he was deemed to be offside.

On most occasions, players will correctly place the ball in line with the position indicated by the Assistant Referee, and near the place where the offside infringement occurred. On other occasions, the placement of the ball seems as though it's made with no (or little) reference to where the offside infringement actually occurred. The Referee must use Law 18 Common Sense when sanctioning the placement of the ball - it is rarely something which teams will moan about, so long as no advantage has been accrued by the wrong positioning of the ball. The aim is to get the game restarted as soon as possible, and not to be over-officious in insisting that the ball must be placed on the exact blade of grass. The Referee should allow a leeway of a few yards or so, but do not allow players to gain an advantage by doing so; and do not allow them to move the ball 10 yards or so from the actual infringement spot.

A Referee cannot be expected to identify and indicate the exact precise position to take every offside indirect free kick.

If the restart is taken some 10 yards away. The Referee needs to balance the following two points.

(a) Did the defending team gain an undue advantage by taking the indirect free kick 10 yards away from the offside incident location? and

(b) Would the repositioning of the ball in the correct position greatly delay the restart of the game.

If the defending team had gained a clear advantage by taking the kick some 10 yards away, then the Referee has no choice but to order the kick to be retaken from the correct spot. If no clear advantage had been gained - the Referee should allow the game to continue. This increases the flow and enjoyment of the game.

Secondly - the exact positioning of the ball at the offside indirect free kick can depend on which area of the field the kick is being taken from. If the indirect free kick is being taken near the defenders own goal line, the Referee can allow a greater degree of flexibility as to the placement of the ball, but the Referee will need to be more precise the nearer the indirect free kick position gets towards the halfway line. The Referee is between the 'Devil and the Deep Blue Sea' when allowing leeway during free kicks. The attacking team may berate the Referee for not allowing the kick to take place on the exact infringement spot. And the defending team may berate him for being too fussy in the positioning of the ball - and will accuse him of spoiling the flow of the game. One piece of general advice to new Referees', is do not be over-fussy in the placement of the ball prior to an offside free kick being taken. Continually insisting on the ball being in the exact position is probably one of the easiest ways to upset players and spoil the game.

Question 40: What is the punishment for offside?

Answer 40: An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team, to be taken from the place where the offside infringement occurred. i.e. where the attacking player was standing  when he was deemed to be offside.

Question 41: Can an attacking player be offside if he receives or intercepts a back-pass by a defender to his own goalkeeper?

Answer 41: No. A player in an offside position can only be deemed offside if the ball was last touched or played to him by a team-mate. In this case, the ball was passed back by an opposition player.

Question 42. Can a offside player be penalised for being offside if he is standing in his opponents' half and receives the ball direct from a free kick taken in his own penalty area.

Answer 42: Yes. A player standing in an offside position can be penalised for being offside if he receives the ball directly from a free kick (indirect or direct) taken from within his own penalty area.

When direct free kicks are awarded to the defending team in their own goal area, it can sometimes be very difficult for the Assistant Referee at the far end of the field, to see whether the Referee has awarded a direct free kick or a goal kick. Not knowing whether the restart is direct free kick or a goal kick, will make ensuing offside decisions difficult for this Assistant Referee - because an attacker cannot be offside from a goal kick - but can be offside from a free kick!

Question 43: An attacker was standing in an offside position when an onside attacking colleague shoots the ball towards goal. The ball hits the crossbar and rebounds to the offside attacker who shoots and scores a goal. Should the goal be allowed to count?

Answer 43: No. If the goal had been scored direct from the first shot, then it would most probably have been allowed to count - so long as the offside attacker had not interfered with an opponent in any way.

But because the ball rebounded back to him from the crossbar, the goal scorer is deemed to have gained an advantage by being in that offside position - and therefore the goal does not count; and an indirect free kick for offside should be awarded to the opposition - to be taken at the place the offside attacker was standing when the ball was first shot towards goal by his team-mate. In this scenario, the Referee finds himself having to give an offside decision some time after the original offside calculation took place. Nevertheless, it is the correct decision by Law - albeit that the decision comes later.

Answer 45: In cases of this nature, the defender who is still off the field of play, must be deemed to be 'On' the field of play, and therefore the attacker is in an on-side position, and play should be allowed to continue. The player who takes the throw in should enter the field of play as soon as he has taken the throw. If he purposefully stays off the field of play (or is unable to get back quick enough), then the Referee should assume that this player is ON the field of play when deciding offside situations.

Question 46: I was a Referee the other day, and I awarded a direct free kick to the defending team in it's own half. The second last defender (not the goalkeeper) decides to take a quick free kick. As he does so, a nearby opponent attempts (in my opinion), to get out of the way of the free kick. The ball hits the opponent in the middle of his back, bounces over the second last defender who has just taken the quick free kick, and travels to a team mate of the opponent who is standing in an offside position about 5 yards towards the goal between the second last defender and his goalkeeper. I penalised this opponent for being offside when he touched the ball. He argued that because he did not receive the ball from an intentional pass, he should not have been penalised. I said that he had interfered with play whilst being in an offside position....who is  correct ?

Answer 46: If the free kick was taken inside the defender's penalty area, and the opponent was still within the penalty area when the ball strikes him in the back, the kick must be taken again (because it has not yet come out of play by leaving the penalty area). All opponents must also stay out of the penalty area until the ball comes into play. If the opponent was outside of the penalty area when the ball strikes him in the back, the ball has come into play by leaving the penalty area, and normal Laws apply (the opponent who was in an offside position should therefore be penalised because he interfered with play by touching the ball, after it last touched his team-mate).

Question 48: If a defending player is lying on the ground injured, should he be discounted from any offside decision making?

Answer 48: No.

If Referees begin to discount injured players when making an offside call, it would not be long before players purposefully start dropping like lead balloons (and feigning injury) as soon as an attacker was through on goal! 

If injured players were discounted, it would lead to farcical situations (see below):
Would an injured player have to lie comatose along the ground before being discounted?
Could he kneel on the ground and get away with it?
If he hops up and down on one foot - would this count for elimination?
If his sticky plaster comes of his finger, is he deemed to be injured? etc. etc……………………….

If Law 11 intended for Referees to ignore an injured player when deciding offside, then it would say so!.

Question 49: Everyone says offside occurs when the ball is passed, but Law 11 actually says "when the ball touches or is played by one of his team". Does this include dribbling?
For example, attackers A and B get a 2 on 1 with the second last defender. Attacking player A is dribbling the ball. Attacker B runs past the second last defender (i.e. into an offside position), causing the second last defender to move toward attacker B, in anticipation of a pass being made by attacker A to attacker B. This opens up a clear path to goal for attacker A who dribbles past the defender and towards the goal. By the time attacker A shoots (and scores), attacker B has drifted back on-side, but the damage has been done. Should the offside be called on the dribble - at the point of time that A plays the ball (dribbles) forward into the space attacker B had vacated?

Answer 49: Attacker A is entitled to continue dribbling the ball towards the goal and has not infringed any of the Laws. Attacker B who is now in an offside position, should only be penalised if he gets involved with active play. For example, if Attacker A dribbles the ball, and it goes to offside Attacker B who touches the ball, then Attacker B has interfered with play, and should be penalised for offside. If attacker B Interferes with an opponent (for example, by clearly obstructing the defenders movement) then attacker B should be penalised for interfering with an opponent. 
Interfering with an opponent means preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent's line of vision or movements or making a gesture or movement which, in the opinion of the referee, deceives or distracts an opponent. In the original question, attacker B is therefore entitled to make a move that may entice a defender away from his current position, so long as he does not become involved in active play.

Question 50: There are only three players standing in the RED defending team’s half.
1. The RED team goalkeeper (No. 1) is in his goal area.
2. The RED team defender (No. 2) is standing inside the centre circle just inside his own half.
3. The GREEN attacking player (No. 9) is standing in the RED team’s penalty area.
All of the other players are in the GREEN team’s half.
The GREEN team goalkeeper, who is standing in his own penalty area at the other end of the field of play, has the ball in his hands.
(No other players move, or are involved with this question).
At this precise moment, the GREEN team goalkeeper kicks the ball towards the GREEN team attacker (No. 9) who is slowly making his way out of the RED team’s penalty area and back towards the halfway line.
The ball is intercepted (and trapped underfoot) by the RED team defender (No. 2) who is still standing in the same position inside his half within the centre circle.
It is clear that when the GREEN team goalkeeper kicks the ball towards the GREEN team attacker (No. 9), the GREEN team attacker is in an offside position, and normally the Referee will allow play to continue.

The Question: What does the offside GREEN attacking player (No. 9) have to do? or how long does he have to wait in Law before he is not deemed to have been 'involved in active play' before he can legally challenge the RED team defender (No. 2) who retains possession of the ball and remains standing in the same position inside his half within the centre circle (with the ball under his feet).
No other players are involved in this scenario.

Answer 50: A player standing in an offside position is deemed to be offside 'at the moment that the ball touches or is played by one of his team'. But it is not an offence to be in an offside position. When the GREEN team goalkeeper kicks the ball, the GREEN attacking player (No. 9) is not (yet) involved with active play, and play should therefore be allowed to continue by the Referee.

As soon as the ball is intercepted (and trapped underfoot) by the RED team defender (No. 2), that phase of play has ended, and the GREEN attacking player (No. 9) is entitled to move towards the RED team defender (No. 2) and challenge for the ball.

If in the original question, the RED team defender (No. 2), does not control the ball, or it rebounds off him towards the GREEN attacking player (No. 9), the GREEN attacking player (No. 9) will be penalised for getting involved in active play if he interferes with play by touching the ball. 

Question 51: If a player is continually offside therefore persistently infringing Laws of the Game, can you caution him?

Answer 51: There is a right way and a wrong way to play football, and if Referees fail to protect the required standards, the game will fall into disrepute 

Being offside is no more of an offence than the ball being kicked out for a throw-in. Therefore, you would not necessarily be able to caution for 'persistent infringement' (because no offence had occurred). 

Nevertheless, our old saviour 'unsporting conduct' will fit the bill perfectly!! Players that purposefully play in a way that is against 'the spirit of the game' can (and should) be cautioned under Law 12 'unsporting behaviour'. 

If a team used this unsporting tactic, then the Referee should call the team Captain over to him, and tell him in no uncertain terms, that if their team's continuous offside tactics were being done purposefully to spoil the game, then each perpetrator could be cautioned for 'unsporting behaviour' (especially if the team were using this tactic to waste time). 

The Captain should also be warned that this behaviour (if it continues) would be reported to the appropriate League or Football authorities. 

If the coach or manger is encouraging his players to waste time towards the end of the game by intentionally getting penalised for being offside as many times as they can, the Referee should have a quiet word with the coach/manger and warn him that if this irresponsible enticement continues, he will be asked to leave the near vicinity of the field of play and reported to the appropriate authorities. 

Question 52: When a player in his own half passes the ball to a colleague who is in an offside position in his opponent's half, should the colleague be penalised for being offside if he touches the ball?

Question 53: It is not an offence in itself to be in an offside position. So what constitutes NOT being being penalised for offside?

Answer 53: A player should not be penalised for offside if:
1. He is in his own half.
2. He receives the ball direct from a throw-in
3. He receives the ball direct from a goal kick
4. He receives the ball direct from a corner kick
5. He receives the ball direct from an opponent
6. He is not involved in active play by: - interfering with a defender, interfering with an opponent, or by gaining an advantage by being in that offside position
7. He is not nearer to the opponent's goal line, than both the ball and the second last defender
9. He (as an attacker) has stepped off the field of play to indicate his non-activity in the current phase of the game.

Question 54: Attacking player No. 9 is in an offside position........a team mate (Attacking player No. 8) tries to pass the ball through to Attacking player No. 9 but it deflects off a Defending player and travels on to Attacking player No. 9 who touches the ball....is it offside? Does the ball touching the defender nullify the offside?

Answer 54: Offside is based on the relative changing positions of players and the ball. It is important to judge offside at the precise moment when the ball is actually played(or touched) by the person making the pass, and not when it is received or deflected. In the above question, at the precise moment when team-mate Attacking player No. 8 passed the ball towards Attacking player No. 9, the Attacking player No. 9 is offside and should be penalised when he interferes with play by touching the ball. Offside is judged at the precise moment that the ball is played to the offside colleague. It does not matter what happens after (i.e. whether the ball deflects off a defender or not) it is still offside.

Question 55: Does there have to be an air gap between the second last defender and an attacking player for offside to be called?

Answer 55: No, most definitely not: In athletics, a winner of a race is the person who gets his/her chest over the line. In other words, the winner is further forward than the second placed runner.
In football, it has been argued that there must be some air between the attacker and the second last defender before offside can be called, but this is not true.

"In deciding whether an attacking payer is nearer to the opponent's goal line than the second last defender, consideration should be given to the position of the attacker’s feet and body in respect to that of the second last defender. ("Air space" or similar misleading phrases should not be used by instructors, but instructors should emphasise that assistant referees must be sure that the attacker is nearer to the goal line than the second last defender)." (UEFA)

In the definition of offside position, "nearer to his opponent" goal line means that any part of a player's head, body or feet is nearer to his opponents' goal line than both the ball and the second last opponent. The arms are not included in this definition. 

Question 56: A long ball is played "over the top" from inside the attacking team’s half of the field of play. An attacking player is in an OFFSIDE position about 5 metres (yards) inside his opponent’s half. The ball was hit too hard and went directly to the defending goalkeeper standing inside his penalty area. The "offside" attacking player clearly has no chance of getting the long ball and merely follows it up-field thinking the goalkeeper will collect it. The goalkeeper attempts to gather up the ball, but makes a ‘hash’ of it, and the ball bounces out of his chest/arms and back towards the approaching attacking, who collects it and scores a goal.
Should the goal have been disallowed for offside, even though the attacking player had no chance of collecting the original long ball, and he was never originally in a position to threaten/interfere with the goalkeeper.

Answer 56: Although the attacking player was in an offside position near the halfway line, it would be assumed by the Assistant Referee, that the goalkeeper would gather the ball safely into his arms, and play would be allowed to continue. The Assistant Referee would normally (in the first instance) keep his flag down, and the Referee would allow play to continue. But if the goalkeeper fails to gather the ball correctly and it rebounds to the offside player who touches the ball, the offside player has gained an advantage by being in an offside position. The Assistant Referee should now raise his flag to indicate that the offside player was involved with active play. The Referee should award an indirect free kick to the defending team for offside.

If the goalkeeper successfully gathers the ball into his arms, a second phase of play starts at the precise moment that the goalkeeper gains control of the ball. This means that the attacking player can no longer be penalised for being offside, because he is now into phase 2, and not nearer to his opponents’ goal line than both the ball and the second last opponent, when the second phase of play begins. 

The crux of this understanding, is whether or not the goalkeeper controls the ball (thus commencing the second phase of play) or not.

Question 57: A defending team clears the ball into the opponents’ half and the defensive line moves up the field of play, leaving three attackers in an offside position. The ball is returned by the attacking team, back into the defenders’ half of the field over the defence. The three attackers are running back in an attempt to get into an onside position. They make no effort to play the ball whilst offside. Once they are back onside, one attacker turns and chases the ball, outpacing the defender and puts the ball into the back of the net. Should the Referee allow the goal to count, or should the attacking player who scored the goal be penalised for being offside.

Answer 57: Offside is judged "at the time that the ball was kicked or touched by a team mates."

In this question – if at the precise moment that the ball was kicked back into the defending teams’ half, the attackers were in an offside position – THEN THEY WERE IN AN OFFSIDE POSITION AT THAT PRECISE MOMENT– and should be penalised if they interfere with play (which they did in this scenario). The attackers cannot suddenly make themselves ONSIDE by running into their own half (or into an onside position), and then running back to gain possession of the ball.  The offside attacking player who scored the goal should be penalised for being offside because he interfered with play by touching the ball.

Question 58: Where in the Laws of the Game does it say that there must be two defenders in their own half of the field in order to have offside. Does there have to be 2 defenders? What if it's just the goal keeper?

Answer 58: Law 11 – Offside states "A player is in an offside position if he is nearer to his opponents' goal line than both the ball and the second last opponent".

An opponent includes the goalkeeper of the defending team. A 'second last opponent' can consist of goalkeeper and a defending player, or two defending players.

If only the goalkeeper is involved,  the attacking player would be nearer to his opponents' goal line than both the ball and the second last opponent, and as such would be penalised for being offside if he interfered with play.

Question 59: An offside-attacking player is making a run towards the far post.
A team-mate hits the ball towards the near post, and a defender standing by the near post, deliberately handles the ball, possibly preventing a goal or at least the opportunity. The ball deflects towards the far post. It could easily have entered the goal without being touched by another player - but the offside-attacking player runs forwards and plays it into the net to be sure. What action should the Referee take?

Answer 59: Because the goal was scored by an attacking player who had interfered with play by touching the ball whilst in an offside position – the goal should not be allowed to count under such circumstances. The offside player had also gained an advantage by playing a ball that had rebounded from an opponent.  

Had the ball entered the goal directly without being touched by the offside-attacking player, then the goal would have counted - because the offside player would probably not have interfered with play (or an opponent). In this case, the defender should be cautioned under ‘unsporting behaviour’ for intentionally handling the ball.

If the Referee believes that a goal scoring opportunity was denied when the defender intentionally handled the ball, then the different phases of play should be terminated at the precise moment that the defender handled the ball. There is no advantage to the attacking team in allowing play to continue beyond this point. In other words, the subsequent goal and the position and action of the offside player become irrelevant in the decision-making equation. The defender should be dismissed with a red card, and a penalty kick awarded to the attacking team.

If the Referee believes that a goal scoring opportunity was NOT denied when the defender intentionally handled the ball, then play should be terminated at the precise moment that the defender handled the ball. There is no advantage to the attacking team in allowing play to continue beyond this point. The subsequent goal and the position and action of the offside player become irrelevant. The defender should be cautioned (for unsporting behaviour) and shown a yellow card, and a penalty kick awarded to the attacking team.

The crux of this reasoning is based on two simple points. (1) The attacking team should always be given the advantage (or benefit of doubt). (2) If in the opinion of the Referee, an attacking player in an offside position is not initially interfering with play, the next offence is the one that should be penalised.   (WebMaster)

Question 60: Two attacking players (Red No. 9 and Red No. 8) are standing just inside their own half of the field of play, when a long ball is hoisted by a colleague (Red No. 5) high into the defending team’s half. All of the defending team's players apart from the defending team's goalkeeper who is on his goal line, are standing near the halfway line. Red No. 9 runs past the defending players, and into his opponent's half, and takes possession of the ball just inside the defending team's penalty area.  Red No. 8 runs into the defending team's half, to catch up with Red No. 9. All of the defending team's players apart from the goalkeeper who is on his goal line, are still standing near the halfway line. The Red No. 9 passes the ball to his colleague Red. No. 8.
Is this offside - because now the Red No. 8 is nearer to his opponent’s goal line than the second last defender?

Answer 60 (see below):

Fig. 1. Two attacking players (Red No. 8 and Red No. 9) are standing just inside their own half, when a long ball is hoisted by a colleague (Red No. 5) high into the defending team’s half . At the moment that the ball is kicked by Red No. 5 – attacking Red players No. 9 and No. 8 are not in an offside position, because a player cannot be offside if he is in his own half of the field of play.
Fig. 2. The two foremost attacking players (Red No. 9 and Red No. 8) run into the defending team’s half of the field of play. Red No. 9 gets possession of the ball. Red No. 9 and Red No. 8 are not offside because at the moment that the ball was played (Fig. 1) by their team-mate (Red No. 5), they were inside their own half.
Fig. 3. The attacking player Red No. 9 passes the ball to his colleague Red No. 8. Red attacking player Red No. 8 is NOT in an offside position, because at the moment when the ball was played to him, (backwards forwards or horizontally) the attacking player Red No. 8 was NOT nearer to his opponent’s goal line than BOTH: (a) the ball (b) and the second last defender To understand this, you need to answer BOTH parts (a) and (b). (a) Was the Red No. 8 above nearer to his opponent’s goal line than the ball? ANSWER NO. (b) Was the Red No. 8 above nearer to his opponent’s goal line than the second last defender? YES For offside to be awarded, BOTH the answers must be YES	When the pass was made by Red No. 9, attacking player Red No. 8 is not in an offside position, because although he IS nearer to his opponent’s goal line than the second last defender, he is NOT nearer to his opponent’s goal line than the ball. For an offside to be called, the Red No. 8 would have to be nearer to his opponent’s goal line than the ball AND the second last defender.
Fig. 4. The attacking player Red No. 9 passes the ball to his colleague Red No. 8. Red attacking player Red No. 8 IS in an offside position, because at the moment when the ball was played to him, the attacking player Red No. 8 WAS nearer to his opponent’s goal line than BOTH: (a) the ball (b) and the second last defender	(a) Was the Red No. 8 above nearer to his opponent’s goal line than the ball? ANSWER YES. (b) Was the Red No. 8 above nearer to his opponent’s goal line than the second last defender? YES For offside to be awarded, BOTH the answers must be YES

Question 61.

Question 61. If the attacking player No. 8 in the above question is nearer to his opponent’s goal line than the ball, then I believe that he should be penalised for being offside if his team-mate Red No. 9 passes the ball to him, regardless of the number of defending players between the attacker Red No. 8 and the defending team's goal line? (See Fig 5)

Answer 61: No.......as well as the position of the ball, penalising offside also depends on the number of defending players between the attacker Red No. 8 and the defending team's goal line?

Understanding offside is a bit like learning to ride a bicycle. To learn the Offside Law is difficult, but once you understand it, it becomes very easy to understand and apply. Offside does not depend ALONE on the number of defending players between the offside player and the defending team's goal line.

For an attacking player to be penalised for being offside, it depends on TWO factors being breached at the precise moment when the ball is played by a team-mate to the offside player..

To be penalised for offside, the Red No. 8 has to be nearer to his opponent’s goal line than both the ball and the second last defender.

There are four possibilities:

1 = OFFSIDE (a) Was the Red No. 8 nearer to his opponent’s goal line than the ball? ANSWER YES. AND (b) Was the Red No. 8 nearer to his opponent’s goal line than the second last defender? YES
2 = NOT OFFSIDE (a) Was the Red No. 8 nearer to his opponent’s goal line than the ball? ANSWER NO. AND (b) Was the Red No. 8 nearer to his opponent’s goal line than the second last defender? YES
3 = NOT OFFSIDE (a) Was the Red No. 8 nearer to his opponent’s goal line than the ball? ANSWER YES. AND (b) Was the Red No. 8 nearer to his opponent’s goal line than the second last defender? NO
4 = NOT OFFSIDE (a) Was the Red No. 8  nearer to his opponent’s goal line than the ball? ANSWER NO. AND (b) Was the Red No. 8  nearer to his opponent’s goal line than the second last defender? NO

Question 62: Someone once told me that it is impossible for an attacking player to be offside if the ball is between him and the goal. Is this correct?

Answer 62: An attacking player standing in a corner arc can be a maximum of 46 yards away from the goal. A ball positioned near the adjacent penalty spot is 18 yards distance from the goal and is therefore nearer to the goal than the attacking (OFFSIDE) player. In this situation, it cannot be said that the ball was between the attacking player and the goal.

A better wording would be "You cannot be offside if the ball is between you and the goal line."

Question 63:
Team A are defending a free kick on the edge of their own penalty area.
Team A move all of their players up to half way line except their defending goalkeeper.
Will the attacking Team B, be offside the minute the ball is played (because there are not two defenders between the Team B attacking player and Team A’s goal line)?

Answer 63: The crux of understanding the offside Law, is the word ‘BOTH’

Offside does not depend ALONE on the number of defending players between the offside player and the defending team's goal line.

For an attacking player to be penalised for being offside, it depends on TWO offside factors being breached at the precise moment when the ball is played.

To be penalised for offside, the attacker has to be nearer to his opponent’s goal line than BOTH (First factor) the ball AND (Second Factor) the second last defender.

Let’s look at this scenario in detail:

1. Was the attacking player nearer to his opponent’s goal line than (First factor) the ball?

Answer NO. (Because he was standing behind the ball.)

2. Was the attacking player nearer to his opponent’s goal line than (Second Factor) the second last defender?

Answer YES. (Because all the defenders, apart from the defending team goalkeeper - were on the halfway line.

For offside to be called, both the answers above need to be YES.

So in the words of the Offside Law 11- "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."

Question 64: An attacking player is in an offside position in front of goal, just inside the goal area. An attacking team-mate shoots the ball towards goal. The goalkeeper comes out, jumps and hits the ball with both forearms. The ball rebounds to the attacker who was in the offside position and he scores a goal. The Assistant Referee flags for offside. The centre Referee overrules the Assistant Referee and allows the goal to count. The centre Referee says that the goal-scorer was not offside because the goalkeeper intentionally played the ball and that the goalkeeper's "controlling and playing" the ball to the attacking player constituted a new phase in play. And that the attacker was onside because the goalkeeper played the ball to him. Who was correct?

Question No. 65: A player was offside when the ball is played to him by a colleague, but before play is stopped he is fouled. What action should the Referee take?

Answer No. 65: There will always be a delay between the Referee making a decision to stop play, and actually raising the whistle to his lips. A Referee’s decision is made in his mind before he blows his whistle. The whistle is only one of a number of communication tools that the Referee has. His voice and the use of arm signals being two others. Penalising players for being offside is in the opinion of the Referee. Therefore, if the Referee decides ‘in his mind’ to stop play, and penalise the offside infringement, anything that happens in that very small amount of time that it takes for the sound of the whistle to reach the players’ ears - should be dealt with as if the ball was out of play.

There are two answers to this question.
(a) If the Referee had decided to penalise the offside before the foul occurs, then the restart is an indirect free kick for the offside infringement. The perpetrator can still be punished accordingly. For example - if the foul used excess force, the player can be sent off.

(b) If the Referee (for whatever decision) decides to ignore the offside offence, and then stops play after the foul occurs (or because of the foul), he will have to re-evaluate the reason why he allowed play to continue in the first place:

(i) If he decides that he made a mistake, and should have decided to stop play for the offside infringement, then the restart is an indirect free kick for the offside infringement.
(ii) If the Referee is adamant (for whatever decision; maybe it was a close call) that he was not going to penalise the attacking player, then the restart is either a direct or an indirect free kick depending on the type of foul that was committed. The perpetrator should be punished according to the severity of the foul.

Thanks to John Goulding for the above question (WebMaster.)

Question 66: An attacking player throws-in the ball to a team-mate who returns the ball forward to the thrower, who is now standing on the field of play in an offside position. A defending player intercepts the pass by deliberately handling the ball. What action should the Referee take? Is this a Direct Free Kick to the attacking team because the defending player deliberately handled the ball? Or should the Referee award the defending team an Indirect Free Kick because the attacking player was offside?

Answer 66: It is not an offence to be standing in an offside position. In this scenario, although the thrower was in an offside position, he did not get involved with active play. Therefore, he did not infringe any of the Law 11 Offside rules.  The Referee should stop play, and award a direct free kick to the attacking team, for a deliberate hand ball. 

Question 67: An attacking player 10 metres from the opponents' goal line, has possession of the ball on the left edge of his opponents' penalty area. He passes the ball across the field to a team-mate who is standing in an offside position on the opposite (right) side of the goal area.

A defending player anticipates the pass, and tries to block the ball with a tackle to prevent it reaching the offside attacking player. Instead of successfully blocking the ball, the ball ricochets off the defending player's boot and goes into the goal. What should the Referee do?

Answer 67: On 1 July 2005, the definitions of what active play consists of, were introduced into Law 11 Offside (see below). In this question, so long as the offside player (in the opinion of the Referee) does not interfere with play, or does not interfere with an opponent, then the goal is legal.

The definitions of elements of involvement in active play are as follows:-

• Interfering with play means playing or touching the ball passed or touched by a team mate.
• Interfering with an opponent means preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent's line of vision or movements or making a gesture or movement which, in the opinion of the referee, deceives or distracts an opponent.
• Gaining an advantage by being in that position means playing a ball that rebounds to him off a post or the crossbar having been in an offside position or playing a ball that rebounds to him off an opponent having been in an offside position.

Note: A more astute defending player would have noted that the attacker was in an offside position, and let the ball pass without touching it!. But in doing this, the defending player would have to have full confidence in the ability of the Assistant Referee to make the correct offside call. In general, defenders are not usually that astute, and always aim to clear the ball away from their goal area and think about it afterwards!

Question 68: If a player's toes are in an offside position, is this player deemed to be offside?

Answer 68: As far as the Laws are concerned, in the definition of offside position, "nearer to his opponent" goal line means that any part of his head, body or feet is nearer to his opponents' goal line than both the ball and the second last opponent. The arms are not included in this definition.

In reality, it is vary rare that Referees would have time to make such slide-rule judgements, and split-second decisions are probably made on the bulk of the offside player's position in relation to the second last opponent. There are so many other things to look at when deciding offside, that it would almost be impossible to stare at the offside player for long enough to make such an accurate calculation. Add to this the fact that some players can run 10 metres in nearly a second, and then add the fact that 2 opposing players running in opposite directions at such a speed, means that the human eye is not capable of making such minute decisions accurately. Add again the fact that an Assistant Referee cannot always be directly in line with the second last opponent. The calculation is therefore made by using a number of factors, probability, angle of view assumption, experience, compensation to adjust against the point where the Assistant Referee was actually looking when the ball was kicked, weather conditions, colour of the shirts, distance etc. etc….

It would only be possible to make a decision based on the body measurement of one or two inches difference if both of the opposing players were standing perfectly still - and as we all know this very rarely happens. (See also the Offside Diagrams page diagram 12b).

Question 69: Corner Kick Conundrum!

• The ball is placed on the touchline, inside the corner arc, in such a way, that a portion of the ball overlaps the touchline, and is outside of the field of play.
• Player 'A' standing outside of the field of play, taps the ball and plays it short to nearby colleague 'B' who is standing 2 yards upfield. At no time, does any part of player 'A's body, enter the field of play.
• The defenders immediately rush out from their goal line, with the aim of placing player 'A' in an offside position.
• The ball is immediately returned by player 'B' towards player 'A' who does not have enough time to enter the field of play. To simplify things - let us assume that there are no defenders on the goal line when the ball is returned.
• The ball is just prevented from going out for a goal kick, by the toe of player 'A' who at all times remains outside of the field of play.
• Player 'A' has not committed any offence, but was unable (due to the speed of the manoeuvre) to get back onto the field of play). 
• What action (if any) should the Referee take?

Answer 69: The established principle for situations such as this, where the Law itself does not offer an answer, is one of the unwritten laws!
"The attacking Player 'A' should be deemed to be on the goal line for the purpose of Law 11".

This is as good a solution as you are likely to find. And it is a solution based on Law 18 (Common Sense), and complies with the Spirit of the Law.
None of the following has ever been written in the Laws, but nevertheless, has always been (and will always be) an accepted principle. 

Players taking a corner kick know that they are allowed to leave the field of play to take the corner kick, without fear of being punished in accordance with the Law 12 caution offences for leaving/re-entering the field of play without the Referee's permission. They also know, that they are expected to re-enter the field of play as soon as possible, once the corner kick has been taken. The only exception to this, is when the 'corner kick taker' purposefully stays off the field of play, to demonstrate that he does not wish to take part in active play during this phase of the game. The same universal principle also applies to throw-ins and goal kicks. The unwritten allowance is there for the purpose of allowing the corner kick to be taken, because it would otherwise be physically impossible to take the corner kick. For the corner kick to be physically taken without the kicker leaving the field of play, the corner arc would have to be a few metres along the goal line, instead of in the corner! Whilst the 'corner kick taker' is off the field of play, it would be unfair to allow him to use the unwritten allowance to gain an advantage for his team by interfering with play (and it is very unlikely that any player would ever consider - or even understand - this complex gamesmanship manoeuvre). Therefore, any action that he takes whilst remaining off the field of play, that influences the game, should be penalised as if this player is deemed to be standing on the goal line. To do otherwise, would go against both the Spirit of the Laws, and any unwritten (and historically accepted) allowances and principles. (WebMaster)

Question 70: During a free kick near their opponents' penalty area, the attacking team place several players around the goalkeeper in an attempt to distract him. Just before the ball is kicked, the distracting payers run into an onside position, and the goalkeeper makes a mess of the save, and the ball rebounds to one of the (originally offside ) players who scores a goal. Is this allowed?

Answer 70: Similar scenarios to that described above, actually occurred in a couple of games the season 2004/2005 in the English Premiership League. One instance was at the Bolton v Leicester game in Feb 04, when Bolton pushed the offside Law to the limit, when they placed two offside players near the opposing goalkeeper prior to a free kick being taken by them on the edge of their opponents' penalty area.
As the free kick taker ran up to kick the ball (and before he touched it), the two (purposefully placed) offside players sprinted back to gain an onside position, just as the ball was kicked. The Leicester goalkeeper Ian Walker fumbled the ball, which rebounded to one of the two (previously offside) Bolton players, who dispatched it nicely into the net.
In essence, no offside had occurred, as the players were not nearer to the opponents' goal line than the last two defenders, when the free kick was taken.
But the manoeuvre was most definitely against the "Spirit of the Offside Law 11", and the FA issued a statement, where Referees were told that if a player is seeking to circumvent the rules, they will be cautioned for improper conduct. Bolton's manager Sam Allardyce apologised for exploiting the rule in the way he did. Thankfully, this was enough to stop players flaunting the loopholes that appeared at the time when the FIFA three active play interpretations were being encouraged. You still see the occasional (initially) offside player hovering around the back of ceremonial walls, but blatant gamesmanship as witnessed in the Bolton game has thankfully disappeared. 
Sam Allardyce's comment on the situation after the game, sums up the ludicrousness of it all. 
"Sooner or later there will be a position where you have 22 players inside the six-yard box and it will not be in the spirit the game is meant to be played."

Question 71: Attacker (A) is stood in an offside position near the six-yard goal area line just in front of his opponent's goalkeeper. Attacker A's goalkeeper takes a goal kick from the other end of the field of play. As the ball is making its way towards attacker (A), he moves from left to right in front of his opponent's goalkeeper. What action should the referee take?

Answer 71: Although attacker (A) is in an offside position, he cannot be penalised for offside, because the ball is travelling towards him from a goal kick. 
If attacker (A) remains still, (even if he is standing right in front of the goalkeeper) he has committed no offence. 
If attacker (A) moves from right to left, in front of the goalkeeper, as the ball is making its way towards them, and the movement impedes the progress of the goalkeeper (see Law 12), then the Referee should stop play and award an indirect free kick to the goalkeeper's team. The free kick should be taken from the place where the offence occurred. 

Question 72: Player (A) passes the ball (not too hard) forwards, towards an area in his opponent's half, where one of his colleagues (B) is standing in an offside position. 

Colleague (B) runs towards the ball, and the Assistant Referee raises his flag for offside. At the same time, the original passer of the ball, player (A) yells out to his colleague (B), to, "Leave it!" at which time, colleague (B) stops his movement towards the ball.

The Referee overrules the Assistant Referee's flag, and allows play to continue, by allowing player (A) to run on to his own ball (therefore, no offside offence has been committed by player (A)).

On seeing the raised flag, a few of the defending players momentarily stop playing, thus theoretically allowing player (A) a greater chance of a clear path towards goal.

Player (A) subsequently runs forward to collect the ball and scores a goal. 

The defending team are clearly upset about the confusion caused by the conflicting signals from the match officials. What advice can you give?

Answer 72: In general, a Referee will always accept an offside flag from his Assistant Referee, but there will be occasions when an honest Referee will need to overrule his Assistant, and allow play to continue. Whilst this can be infuriating for the Assistant Referee involved, it is in line with the Law 6 (The Assistant Referee) wording, "subject to the decision of the referee, an assistant referee…. can indicate when a player may be penalised for being in an offside position."

In short, whilst it is the Assistant Referee who generally 'indicates' offside, it is 'subject to the decision of the referee'. 

In the scenario described in this question, player (A) runs on to collect his own pass, and has therefore not committed any offside infringement. The crux of the confusion lies with the advice and changes introduced into the offside Law over the past few years. Is player (B) (in the opinion of the referee) involved with active play or not, by (1) interfering with play, (2) gaining an advantage by being in an offside position, or (3) by interfering with an opponent?

In accordance with Law 11 (Offside):
(1) Player (B) did not interfere with play by touching the ball. 
(2) Player (B) did not gain an advantage by being in that position, by playing a ball that rebounds to him off a post or the crossbar, or playing a ball that rebounds to him off an opponent.

The answer to the scenario must therefore be found in whether or not player (B) is interfering with an opponent or not?

(3) Law 11 tells us that; 'Interfering with an opponent means preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent's line of vision or movements or making a gesture or movement which, in the opinion of the referee, deceives or distracts an opponent.'

The key words here are: 'making a gesture or movement which, in the opinion of the referee, deceives or distracts an opponent.'

It is clear that by naturally moving towards the ball, player (B) did not intend to deceive an opponent. 

This leaves us with the final question: Did player (B) distract an opponent?
As this is a subjective opinion, only the Referee can answer this with any degree of accuracy. 

Nevertheless, it is very unlikely in the scenario discussed in this question, that the movement of player (B) would have distracted an opponent. And it would be impossible to prove so, in the blink of an eye (the time taken by the Referee to make a decision). 

The problem that the defending team has, is not so much whether player (B) distracted them (thus breaching Law 11), but rather the distraction caused by the Assistant Referee having his flag signal overruled. This is where the nub of the problem is; for as far as the Laws are concerned, there was no infringement of Law 11.

The Assistant Referee was right in raising his flag, when it looked like player (B) was about to become active. This is in accordance with FIFA Circular No. 987 issued on 17 August 2005, to clarify when a player may be penalised.

"A player in an offside position may be penalised before playing or touching the ball if, in the opinion of the referee, no other team-mate in an onside position has the opportunity to play the ball.

If an opponent becomes involved in the play and if, in the opinion of the referee, there is potential for physical contact, the player in the offside position shall be penalised for interfering with an opponent." 

The confusion arises, because whilst the Assistant Referee is primarily focused on the movement of player (B), it is the Referee who actually has the bigger picture, of the full involvement from both player (A) and player (B). 

These types of situations will occur from time to time, and will generate frustration on behalf of the players. One of the hardest aspects for being an Assistant Referee, is to completely attune to the Referee's control of the game, and to slightly delay the delivery of an offside flag signal, thus minimising future occurrences of this nature. 

Wait, Wait and then Flag (or not).

Albeit that a slightly late flag for a correct decision will also generate some banter and frustration from the participants, it will allow for more consistency between the match officials, and allow the Assistant Referee more time to see how a move develops. Had the Assistant Referee in this question slightly delayed his decision, he may have been able to go along with the Referee's decision to allow play to continue. 

Its not an easy call to make, and each situation is different. But in general, a correct slightly late flag signal (or a delayed decision not to flag), is much better than raising the flag too quickly. This is a very difficult art to perfect, but once achieved, will certainly minimise frustration following match-changing moments. 

Question 73: In today's game, a player side-footed the ball towards the far corner of the goal when the goalkeeper was stranded at the other side of the goal. The ball was just about to enter the goal (maybe three inches off the goal line) when another attacking player who had been standing in an offside position overeagerly smashed the ball into the net in celebration just before the ball crossed the line. The Assistant flagged for offside, and the referee disallowed the goal. Thinking about it later though, had the striker been interfering with play? There were no defenders on his side of the goal, so there was no interference there, and the ball was going in anyway. Should the goal have been allowed?

Answer 73: It's surprising how often this scenario comes up during games. And even more surprising how players are stupid enough to let their emotions get the better of them in such situations, when they know full well, that the goal will be disallowed.  There is no way that you could justify such a goal within the current wording of Law 11 Offside. 

The goal would have counted, had the offside attacker remained passive by not involving himself with active play, and allowing the ball to enter the goal. In other words, by not interfering with play or interfering with an opponent, and not gaining an advantage by being in that position. 

By touching the ball into the net from an offside potion, he broaches the Law 11 criteria (he interfered with play by touching the ball played or touched by his team mate). The goal is therefore illegal.

Question 74:
Attacker (A) is in an ONside position near the right touchline.
Attacker (B) is in an OFFside position near the left touchline,
An ONside team mate (C) who is just inside the defending team's half, lobs the ball high towards the area behind the second last defender for attacker (A) to run onto.
The second last defender realises that attacker (A) will gain possession of the ball, so he reaches up with his hand and deliberately deflects the ball away from where attacker (A) is running to, and towards the left where the
OFFside player is positioned. 
OFFside attacker (B), then runs and makes contact with the ball.
As a deliberate handling is a foul, can it be a controlled possession, thus resetting the criteria of offside?
What action should the Referee take?

Answer 74: The Referee should stop play and award a direct free kick to the attacking team, at the place where the defender deliberately handled the ball. If this was inside the defender's penalty area, then a penalty kick should be awarded.
Note 1: The defender cannot be said to have controlled the ball, when he deliberately handled it. Therefore, offside cannot be reset at this point. To allow a deliberate handing of the ball to be seen as controlled possession, would be stretching the Laws much too far.
Note 2: If the deliberate handling prevented a goal scoring opportunity, then the defending player should be sent off. At the very least, the defending player should receive a caution for deliberately handing the ball.
Note 3: Had the ball been deflected towards attacker (A) instead of attacker (B), it would be possible for the Referee to apply the advantage clause as a viable option. In other words, a good chance on goal with only the goalkeeper to beat, is more advantageous to the attacking team, than awarding them a free kick.

Question 75: If a through ball is played and intercepted cleanly by a defender whilst a striker is i n a passive offside position, (i.e. not interfering with play), at what point can the striker begin to try and chase down the defender without being flagged for offside? Is it reasonable to assume that after the defender is cleanly in possession of the ball, the next phase of play has begun, and hence the striker can begin to apply pressure on the defender?

Answer 75: Football is all about one team obtaining possession and then the other team gaining possession - and so on……. it is a contest of two sides. 

For an offside infringement to be penalised, the person who initially plays or touches the ball, must be on the same side as the penalised offside player. In other words, the ball was in the possession of that team. As soon as the other team gain possession/control of the ball, they then become susceptible to being penalised for offside if they counter attack. 

Only one team at a time can be penalised for offside; there is no time factor in this change over, as it happens immediately. Therefore, so long as the original offside player does not make a gesture or a movement which, in the opinion of the referee, deceives or distracts an opponent, as soon as the other team gain clean possession/control of the ball, the other team can make a challenge for the ball without fear of breaking any Law 11 Offside criteria.

This is the end of the Offside page.

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