Is number 9 onside or offside?

[Réiteoir]

You noted that you can't leave the field of play without the ref's permission. This is wrong; you just can't come back on without permission. So Réiteóir's right.

The obvious corollary from this is that a player can play someone offside by stepping off the pitch, but as this involves a player staying well behind the rest of the defence and thereby causing the problem in the first place, it's not something which is ever likely to be taken up as a tactic. I'd imagine it'd be a bookable offence to deliberately try catch someone offside like that too.

it's classed as unsporting behaviour - and would be a caution.

I've just asked this question to an English FA National Referees Instructor - his answer should seal the deal once and for all (nothing against the two American lads who have offered their advice in the earlier posting - but their grades are equal to refereeing on the DDSL)

[stojkovic]

He is offside and the Number 3 gets a yellow card for leaving the pitch without permission.

Lads I said this from the start. No debate needed.

OFFSIDE AND A YELLOW CARD FOR NUMBER 3.

How can you listen to a Septic Ref called Chuck.

[pineapple stu]

The original post never said whether the player left the pitch voluntarily or merely, say, fell over the line while clearing the ball off balance.

[Closed Account]

The original post never said whether the player left the pitch voluntarily or merely, say, fell over the line while clearing the ball off balance.

To clarify, I am strictly speaking of a scenario where momentum took the defender off the pitch and his intention is to rejoin the field of play as soon as he is able.

[Closed Account]

How can you listen to a Septic Ref called Chuck.

I'm assuming you've done more research than was needed, but I'd like to know where you got the Septic bit from?

[Réiteoir]

I'm assuming you've done more research than was needed, but I'd like to know where you got the Septic bit from?

Rhyming slang

Septic = Septic Tank = Yank

[Réiteoir]

I have had an answer back from the English FA Referees Instructor I referenced earlier.

His answer to the question is short, and to the point:

The Red 9 is most definitely offside.

[girlinblack]

Reitoir, i don't think you're quoting the full answer...

Here it is:

"The Red 9 is most definitely offside.

If we started allowing defenders to step beyond the goal line to make attacking players offside, it would open the floodgates for players to do this all of the time!



Regards, Julian"

I think he meant to say Red 9 is onside, judging by his next sentence. Would you not agree, given this passage from LOTG 07/08: Additional instructions & guidelines to referees, Law 11 Offside (page 102):
"[FONT=Frutiger-Light][SIZE=2]If a defending player steps behind his own goal line in order to place
[LEFT]an opponent in an offside position, the referee shall allow play to
continue and caution the defender for deliberately leaving the fi eld
of play without the referee’s permission when the ball is next out of[/LEFT]
play."[/SIZE][/FONT]
Also from Law 3, the number of players:
"[FONT=Frutiger-Light][SIZE=2]If a player accidentally crosses one of the boundary lines of the fi eld
[LEFT]of play, he is not deemed to have committed an infringement. Going[/LEFT]
off the fi eld of play may be considered to be part of a playing movement."
In other words, if momentum takes a player off the FOP, we are to treat him (or her) as though they are still on the field (no cautions etc.)?

Interesting discussion on it anyway!
[/SIZE][/FONT]

[Réiteoir]

yeah - i didn't want to post the second bit due to it being a bit confusing.

Anyway - it's all been cleared up now - interesting discussion all the same

[Closed Account]

Alright boys, Bendtner was flagged offside on this one? Any thoughts? I think play should of been allowed continue.

[DmanDmythDledge]

If you want to be very technical he is onside because Carragher's hand is on the pitch.

[TheBoss]

He has to be onside, as Dman states, Carragher is on the field of play.

[Closed Account]

He has to be onside, as Dman states, Carragher is on the field of play.

If you want to be very technical he is onside because Carragher's hand is on the pitch.

Correct

[noby]

I'm trying to remember, but didn't Carragher tackle someone, Adebayor possibly, and he also ended up off the pitch, just out of shot, so technically he was offside.

Not that it matters, as Bentdner still managed to screw it up anyway.

[inexile]

noby your spot on, carragher went off the field of play trying to block a cross therefore he is not deemed involved in the action, to be fair i thought it was an excellant piece of work by the linesman, when you factor into account everything.

what about george hamilton commentating, only for liam brady correcting him george would have been giving out saying bendtner was onside.

[Closed Account]

Van Nistelrooy was onside tonight? I think that proves me correct?
Definately onside

[Réiteoir]

Van Nistelrooy - definitely onside tonight:

A player leaving the field of play because of 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

[crc]

Van Nistelrooy 100% onside. otherwise any defender could just step off the pitch whenever he wanted to.

[sullanefc]

Van Nistelrooy 100% onside. otherwise any defender could just step off the pitch whenever he wanted to.

Agreed, and I don't think there was much wrong with Panucci either. Good goal.

For the record, I don't think Bendtner should have been flagged offside in the pic above either.

[stojkovic]

Van Nistelrooy 100% onside. otherwise any defender could just step off the pitch whenever he wanted to.

Panucci didnt 'step off the pitch', he was INVOLUNTARILY bundled off the pitch by his own keeper. The ball did not fall to van Nistelrooy straight away, it went out and came back in, which gave van Nistelrooy plenty of time to get back on-side. It was OFFSIDE.

The off-side rule now is so vague and confusing that it allows referees interpret it however they like and to twist it around to suit any situation to prove they made a correct decision.

Ive asked numerous referees to explain THEIR interpretation of the off-side rule and every single one of them gives a different answer.