Offside Interpretations

Gaining an Advantage Amendment 2013 ‘Gaining an advantage by being in that position' means playing a ball that rebounds, is deflected or is played to him from a deliberate save by an opponent having been in an offside position. A player in an offside position receiving the ball from an opponent, who deliberately plays the ball (except from a deliberate save), is not considered to have gained an advantage. 2

Gaining an Advantage Prior to 2012/13 when this clarification was introduced into FIFA’s Laws of the Game, judging 'Gaining an Advantage' was clear and easy to interpret by match officials. Then, defenders had to clearly have the ball under their control to be interpreted as deliberately playing the ball. Now it is a gray area as it is more difficult to interpret the difference between a 'deliberate play' and a 'deflection'. 3

Gaining an Advantage Referees have had a year’s experience interpreting the rule change and applying these concepts in match situations. Questions have been asked by national associations, including USSF. Gradually, we are moving toward more consistent application. 4

US Soccer OFFSIDE INTERPRETATION: If a defender is successful in deliberately playing the ball and it subsequently goes to a player who was in an offside position originally and that player plays the ball, he shall not be declared offside. If the ball merely deflects or rebounds off of a defender who made no effort to touch the ball but it touched him and subsequently goes to a player who was in an offside position and plays (touches) the ball, he shall be declared offside. If an opponent deliberately saves the ball and it subsequently goes to a player who was in an offside position originally and plays (touches) the ball, he shall be declared offside. 5

Current Position of USSF Similarities with how we judge ‘deliberately handles the ball.’ No effort Action vs Reaction Successful in deliberately playing the ball 6

Let’s Look at Some Examples 7

Deliberate Or Deflection? 8

Not Offside Yellow 12 in an offside position receives the ball from an opponent (blue 33) who deliberately headed the ball 9

Deliberate Or Deflection? 10

Not Offside White 20 in an offside position receives the ball from an opponent (blue/red 21), who deliberately played the ball. 11

Deliberate Or Deflection? 12

Not Offside Orange 23 is in an offside position when the ball is played by a teammate. However, Blue 23 deliberately plays the ball. The AR correctly leaves the flag down. 13

Deliberate Or Deflection? 14

Offside The shot by a teammate (blue 18) is deflected by an opponent (red/white 35) to attacker (blue 7). 15

Gaining an Advantage We do not get to view multiple replays! So, how do we decide? 16

Gaining an Advantage In making these types of calls, the referee must make his or her decision by taking the following into consideration: - Distance from the ball - Speed of the ball - Is the player moving towards the ball? - Thinking time of the defender - Is the defender’s movement an action or reaction? 17

Gaining an Advantage In debatable cases, as long as the referee goes through these considerations, the referee has done his or her job. 18

Deliberate vs Deflection Let’s look at some more difficult examples. 19

Deliberate Or Deflection? 20

Offside The Blue player’s touch on the ball is judged NOT to be a deliberate play. ‘Action’ vs ‘Reaction’ 21

Deliberate Or Deflection? 22

Offside Black player 21’s touch on the ball is judged NOT to be a deliberate play. ‘Action’ vs ‘Reaction’ In 2014, USSF determined this was a legitimate goal. With further input from FIFA, that interpretation has changed. 23

Mechanics Who knows about offside position? Whose job is it to judge deliberate vs deflection? What can the AR see? What should the AR do? 24

Interfering With an Opponent 25

Interfering With an Opponent The only considerations we had in according to the Laws of the Game were: Is the player in the offside position clearly obstructing the opponent’s line of vision? Is the player in the offside position challenging an opponent for the ball? And ‘challenging’ implied contact. 26

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Offside White 11 runs toward the ball preventing the opponent (GK) from playing the ball by challenging the opponent. 28

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Offside White #7 in an offside position runs toward the ball, preventing the opponent red 15 from playing or being able to play the ball. Notice the clear physical contact. 30

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Not Offside Blue 16 in an offside position runs toward the ball, but he does not prevent opponent (white 2) from playing or being able to play the ball. 32

Interfering With an Opponent 2015 FIFA has issued the following clarification: Additional interpretation of ‘challenging an opponent for the ball’ A player in an offside position is deemed to be ‘challenging an opponent for the ball’ if he makes a clear action within playing distance which impacts the ability of the opponent to play the ball. ‘Challenging an opponent for the ball’ has no specific distance. Therefore, the referee must interpret the playing distance and its impact correctly. 33

Interfering With an Opponent 2015 Key considerations: A clear action Within playing distance Impacts the ability of the opponent to play the ball. 34

Some Examples 35

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Offside Red #9, in proximity to the ball and proximity to the goalkeeper, makes a movement that impacts the goalkeeper’s ability to play the ball or attempt to play the ball. 37

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Offside Green #9, in proximity to the ball and proximity to the goalkeeper, makes a movement that impacts the goalkeeper’s ability to play the ball or attempt to play the ball. 39

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Not Offside Yellow #19 is in an offside position, but does not play the ball and does not prevent the opponents from playing or being able to play the ball. 41

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Offside The players are deliberately standing in an offside position prior to a free-kick to obstruct the goalkeeper’s line of vision. 43

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Offside The player is deliberately standing in an offside position prior to a free-kick to obstruct the goalkeeper’s line of vision. It is not necessary in these cases to determine whether the offside player actually blocked the vision of the opponent. 45

Interfering with an Opponent The mandate from FIFA is that if the player is deliberately standing in an offside position as a tactic, he will be declared offside. This is a tactic to obstruct the goalkeeper’s line of vision, and so it should be penalized as offside. 46

Interfering With an Opponent Referees are free to be proactive in these set-play situations. You may inform the players that the tactic they are employing will be penalized as offside. 47

Interfering With an Opponent Referees are free to be proactive in these set-play situations. You may inform the players that the tactic they are employing will be penalized as offside. 48

Mechanics Who knows about offside position? Whose job is it to judge interfering with an opponent? What should the AR do? 49

Questions? Comments? 50