Back in October I wrote a post about the new interpretation to Law 11. The original link to the explanation has since then been broken and I think I’ve figured out why…the interpretation (IMHO) was incorrect – or, at least the way it was understood by the author was incorrect and he has since changed his understanding and created a new presentation it which can be found HERE.
In the old post, it was said that a player cannot be penalized for being in an offside position is the ball is deliberately played by a defending player (regardless of whether or not the kick was good – ie. the attempt was successful or the ball was miss-kicked.) However, is the ball is only deflected off a defending player, then the attacker in the offside position is then penalized. The 2 clips that were used in order to illustrate this point were contradictory to each other, in my opinion, and they created great confusion.
Now enter the REAL explanation and the revised version of the interpretation, specifically with regards to the definition of Offside:
The new text in the LOTG states (FIFA LOTG 2013/2014: Interpretations and Guidelines, pp. 108):
• “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 challenging an opponent for the ball
Explanation: White 11, in an offside position, runs towards the ball, preventing the opponent (GK) from playing or being able to play the ball by challenging the opponent for the ball – OFFSIDE!
Explanation: White 7, in an offside position, runs towards the ball, preventing the opponent (red 15) from playing or being able to play the ball by challenging the opponent for the ball – OFFSIDE!
Explanation: This is a hard one…Blue 16, in an offside position, runs towards the ball but does NOT prevent the opponent (white 2) from playing or being able to play the ball. Therefore, blue 16 is NOT challenging the opponent (white 2) for the ball – NO OFFSIDE OFFENSE! This is why the “Wait and See” or “Delay” approach is so very crucial!
• “gaining an advantage by being in that position” means playing a ball
i. that rebounds or is deflected to him off the goalpost, crossbar or an opponent having been in an offside position
Explanation: The shot by a team-mate (blue 11) rebounds off an opponent (red 15) to the attacker (blue 9) who is penalized for playing or touching the ball having previously been in an offside position – OFFSIDE!
Explanation: The shot by a team-mate (blue 18) is touched by an opponent (red 35) who tries to clear/save the ball but misses and therefore, the ball is deflected to attacker (blue 7) who is penalized for playing or touching the ball having previously been in an offside position – OFFSIDE!
ii. that rebounds, is deflected or is played to him from a deliberate save by an opponent having been in an offside position
Explanation: Yellow 4 is in an offside position and penalized for playing or touching the ball that is played to him from a deliberate save by the goalkeeper, having been in an offside position when the ball was last touched or played by a team-mate (yellow 23) – OFFSIDE!
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.
Explanation: Yellow 12, in an offside position, receives the ball from an opponent (Blue 33) who deliberately headed the ball backwards. Yellow 12 is not considered to have gained an advantage – NO OFFSIDE OFFENSE!
Explanation: White 20, who is in an offside position, receives the ball directly from an opponent (blue/red 21) who deliberately play the ball back towards his own goal. white 20 is not considered to have gained an advantage – NO OFFSIDE OFFENSE!
In plain, everyday English, and to make this easier to understand…basically, as far as I currently understand the new changes to LAw 11…NOTHING HAS CHANGED!!! We can continue to apply Law 11 as we have been applying it in the past few years.
Thank you FIFA for all the unnecessary confusion!!!
Happy Whistling!
The Third Blind Mouse
