Law 11·offside

Offside — Interfering with Play

Being in an offside position is not an offence by itself. A player is only penalised if they are involved in active play by touching the ball, interfering with an opponent, or gaining an advantage.

The full rule

A player in an offside position is only penalised if they become involved in active play. This means: touching the ball passed or touched by a teammate, interfering with an opponent by preventing them from playing the ball, or gaining an advantage by playing a ball that rebounds from the post, crossbar, or an opponent. A player who is in an offside position but runs away from the ball and has no impact on the play should not be flagged.

Key points

✓Offside position alone is not an offence
✓Must be involved: touching ball, blocking opponent, or gaining advantage
✓Gaining advantage includes rebounds off posts or opponents
✓Linesman should delay flag until it is clear the player is involved
✓VAR checks involvement as well as position

Scenarios

Offside player runs away from the ball

An attacker is in an offside position when the ball is played, but they run away from it and a different teammate scores.

Correct call: Goal stands. The offside player was not involved in active play.

Common mistake: Flagging offside because the player was in an offside position. Position without involvement is not an offence.

Verdict:goal

Ball rebounds off post to offside attacker

An attacker shoots and the ball hits the post. A teammate in an offside position runs onto the rebound and scores.

Correct call: Offside. The player gained an advantage from their offside position by playing a rebound.

Common mistake: Allowing the goal because the rebound came off the post, not an opponent. Post and crossbar rebounds count as gaining an advantage.

Verdict:offside