<strong>Being in an offside position is not itself an offence.</strong> Under IFAB Law 11, a player is penalised only when in an offside position and then becoming involved in active play in a way defined by the Law. The position is judged when a teammate plays or touches the ball, and hands and arms are not considered when determining the position.
Table of Contents- What is an offside position?
- Offside position is not the same as an offence
- When is the position judged?
- When there is no offside offence
- Interfering with an opponent
- Deflections, rebounds and deliberate play
- Offside and VAR
- How to follow an offside decision
- Conclusion
What is an offside position?
A player is in an offside position when part of the head, body or feet is in the opponents’ half and nearer the opponents’ goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent. The halfway line itself does not count as the opponents’ half for this purpose.
The goalkeeper is treated like any other opponent when identifying the relevant line. The hands and arms of all players are excluded from the offside-position calculation.
Offside position is not the same as an offence
This is the most important distinction. A player can stand in an offside position and remain unpenalised if they do not become involved in active play in a prohibited way.
The offence can arise when the player plays or touches a ball from a teammate, interferes with an opponent or gains an advantage from the position in circumstances covered by Law 11.
When is the position judged?
The reference point is the moment a teammate plays or touches the ball. This is why the timing of the pass matters. A player can run back into an onside position after the ball has been played, but that does not erase an offence that has already occurred through involvement in play.
Conversely, a player who was initially offside can sometimes become involved later in a new phase of play when they are no longer in an offside position.
When there is no offside offence
Law 11 specifically states that there is no offside offence when a player receives the ball directly from a goal kick, throw-in or corner kick.
That does not mean a player can never be offside after a corner or throw-in. Once the ball has been played by a teammate after the restart, the normal offside rules apply.
Interfering with an opponent
A player in an offside position can be penalised for interfering with an opponent. One example is clearly obstructing an opponent’s line of vision. Other forms of challenging or affecting an opponent can also matter under the Law.
This is why an attacker does not need to touch the ball to be involved in an offside offence.
Deflections, rebounds and deliberate play
Offside decisions can become complicated when the ball touches a defender. The Law distinguishes between situations such as a deliberate play by a defender and a save or deflection. The precise facts matter.
IFAB’s examples show that a deliberate play by an opponent can reset the offside situation in some circumstances, while a save can leave the attacker liable for gaining an advantage from the original offside position.
Offside and VAR
Video assistance can help officials determine the relative positions of players and the moment the ball was played. In competitions using VAR, the technology can support factual offside decisions within the applicable protocol.
The underlying rule remains Law 11. VAR does not create a separate offside rule.
How to follow an offside decision
When watching a replay, identify the exact moment the teammate plays the ball. Then identify the attacker’s relevant body position and the second-last opponent. Finally, ask whether the attacker became involved in active play.
This sequence is much more reliable than judging the decision from a frozen image taken after the ball has already travelled.
Conclusion
Offside is a timing and involvement rule, not simply a rule against standing beyond defenders. Law 11 separates offside position from an actual offence and provides specific exceptions for goal kicks, throw-ins and corners. For difficult incidents, the current IFAB Law and the competition’s officiating framework should be the reference.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a player be offside without committing an offence?
Yes. Being in an offside position is not itself an offence.
Are hands counted for offside?
No. Hands and arms are not considered when determining offside position.
Can you be offside directly from a corner?
No. There is no offside offence when a player receives the ball directly from a corner kick.
When is offside position judged?
It is judged when a teammate plays or touches the ball, subject to the details of Law 11.