The Offside Rule

[davieG]

The Offside Rule and Offside Trap in Football

It is not an offence in itself to be in an offside position.

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
  

A player is not in an offside position if:

• he is in his own half of the field of play
  
• he is level with the second last opponent
  
• he is level with the last two opponents
  

Commiting an Offside Offence

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

• interfering with play
  
• interfering with an opponent
  
• gaining an advantage by being in that position
  

No Offence

There is no offside offence if a player receives the ball directly from:

• a goal kick
  
• a throw-in
  
• a corner kick
  

Surely Miller (WBA's 3rd goal) was interfering with play by gaining an adavntage by being in the position he was in when the ball was played forward by his team-mate, irrespective of it then being played on by a defender.

[Bert]

I would've flagged.

[Durnerz]

I want the old rule back, the one where there has to be daylight between you and the last defender, none of this interfering with play melarky, we'd see a lot more goals too.

[lildave3]

I would have given it, but what do I know.

[Jack]

I would've gave offside.

[TheBlinding]

Should have been flagged. What's the difference between that and when a striker follows up when the keeper spills it from an offside position, they are always given offside.

[DB11]

I thought it was offside.

Here is a discussion between Referees.

[Sparky]

The Offside Rule and Offside Trap in Football

It is not an offence in itself to be in an offside position.

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
  

A player is not in an offside position if:

• he is in his own half of the field of play
  
• he is level with the second last opponent
  
• he is level with the last two opponents
  

Commiting an Offside Offence

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

• interfering with play
  
• interfering with an opponent
  
• gaining an advantage by being in that position
  

No Offence

There is no offside offence if a player receives the ball directly from:

• a goal kick
  
• a throw-in
  
• a corner kick
  

Surely Miller (WBA's 3rd goal) was interfering with play by gaining an adavntage by being in the position he was in when the ball was played forward by his team-mate, irrespective of it then being played on by a defender.

Yeah id have flagged , as a defender its hard now because you can play an offside trap , catch him offside but the flag dont go up , then he scores within the next 5 seconds !!

barmy

[AyewJoking]

what if the goalie goes up for a corner, the other team clear and pass the ball to the attacker who is behind "the last outfield player" but there is another player further back.

is he onside or offside? (if you understand what im on about)

[Sods]

what if the goalie goes up for a corner, the other team clear and pass the ball to the attacker who is behind "the last outfield player" but there is another player further back.

is he onside or offside? (if you understand what im on about)

Offside!

[Sods]

Ban the offside.

[davieG]

I thought it was offside.

Here is a discussion between Referees.

Well if it's so difficult for trained referees to determine/interpret the offside rule then there is clearly something wrong with the rule or it's over complicated. Rules should be simple enough to be fully understood without any form of confusion. Players don't have time in the heat of the game to ponder whether something is illegal or not.

Sort it out FA!

[DB11]

Well if it's so difficult for trained referees to determine/interpret the offside rule then there is clearly something wrong with the rule or it's over complicated. Rules should be simple enough to be fully understood without any form of confusion. Players don't have time in the heat of the game to ponder whether something is illegal or not.

Sort it out FA!

It's started a good discussion though if you wanna keep checking back on updated posts

[ousefox]

if the player is behind the keeper he is also offside??

[davieG]

if the player is behind the keeper he is also offside??

Try reading the rule before you comment!

[ousefox]

Try reading the rule before you comment!

doesnt mention keeper!

[davieG]

doesnt mention keeper!

Exactly - the keeper is not relevant it's any 2 opposition players, of course in most one of them is usually the keeper.

[ousefox]

ok cheers for sortin that 1 out!!!

[DB11]

"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."