|
|
 |
|
|
Law Changes and Memos
An Offside Issue – Is Touching the Ball a Requirement
In a match on April 15, 2007, between the New York Red Bulls and FC Dallas, Red Bulls player #19 (Richards) shoots on goal. The ball is stopped and deflected by Dallas goalkeeper #1 (Hislop) but it goes to Red Bulls player #11 (van den Bergh) who takes another shot on goal.
When van den Bergh strikes the ball, his teammate, Mathis (#13) is in an offside position – indeed, Mathis is just barely above the goal line on the right hand side of the goal – and the ball is moving directly toward him. Mathis jumps up and the ball passes under him into the net for a score.
The following issues and concerns are raised by the previous scenario:
On August 24, 2006, USSF issued a memorandum based on the developing interpretation and application of Law 11 which specifically laid out the proposition that “interfering with play” requires either touching the ball or making a credible move to play the ball. Acting to avoid contact (if successful) does not meet either of these criteria. An attacker in an offside position must act (touch the ball, move to the ball, interfere with an opponent, block an opponent, distract or deceive an opponent) to be declared offside. Action to avoid involvement (if successful) must be excluded.
Referees should remember that a scenario such as this one, which might have been called differently in years past, must now meet more stringent standards for an offside violation. Although the basic requirements for an offside violation under Law 11 remain the same, our understanding of how to implement these requirements has been evolving to match the modern game.
Viewing U.S. Soccer's Referee Position Papers:
To view the video related to this email and others like it from the U.S. Soccer Referee Department, log onto ussoccer.com's YouTube page and go to "Playlists" and then to "Playlist Name: U.S. Soccer Referee Department" or click one of the links below. This recent addition to the ussoccer.com's YouTube page is the place to get caught up on all of U.S. Soccer's rule interpretations.
Re: Law 11 – Offside
Interfering with Play and Interfering with an Opponent
Date: August 24, 2006
________________________________________________________________
The proper interpretation and application of Law 11 have been evolving in recent years. To this end, the International Board has provided detailed definitions of the ways in which a player may become involved in active play (Law 11, International Board Decision 2). On August 17, 2005, a Circular from the FIFA further clarified some of the confusion regarding whether "touching the ball" was a requirement for "interfering with play" (emphasis added):
· A player in an offside position may be penalized before playing or touching the ball if, in the opinion of the referee, no other teammate in an onside position has the opportunity to play the ball.
· If an opponent becomes involved in the play and if, in the opinion of the referee, there is potential for physical contact, the player in the offside position shall be penalized for interfering with an opponent.
To "interfere with play" means that the attacker must touch the ball or make a play for the ball. While "touching the ball" is obvious, an attacker has not made a play for the ball if, in fact, he does not move toward the ball or does not move any part of his body in an attempt to touch a ball played toward him. It is not correct to consider "in the area of active play" to be the same as "involved in active play" -- merely being near the ball is not enough to judge that the attacker is involved in active play. The attacker must act to play the ball, though the "action" does not have to include touching the ball.
To "interfere with an opponent" means that an opponent must actually be prevented from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly blocking the opponent's line of vision or direction of movement or by "making a gesture or movement which, in the opinion of the referee, deceives or distracts an opponent." To be deceived or distracted, however, the opponent must be within some reasonable distance of the play. There is no hard and fast test of "nearness" beyond the opinion of the referee but the interference with an opponent must be clear (not just hypothetical or theoretically possible) before deciding that an offside violation has occurred.
In the attached USL clip, Miami player Romario is in an obvious offside position when the ball is last touched by his teammate, Gil, and Gil then plays the ball forward almost directly toward Romario. However, Romario neither touches nor makes any play for the ball. Furthermore, there is no opponent close enough to be reasonably obstructed or impeded in any way nor does Romario make any gesture or movement which could reasonably be considered deceptive or distracting. Gil proceeds to run forward, takes control of his own pass, moves farther downfield from Romario, and then passes the ball back to Romario who ultimately scores a goal. The goal was valid and, in particular, there was no offside offense during any part of this sequence of play.
In a situation such as this, neither the referee nor the lead assistant referee should assume that Romario will play the ball simply because it was sent in his direction. They must wait to see if Romario touches the ball, makes a play toward the ball, or moves in such a way as to obstruct, impede, deceive, or distract an opponent who is close enough that the opponent is prevented from participating in the play.
Regarding Law 15 (Throw-In) Enforcing the Minimum Distance
In 2005, the International Board approved a change in Law 15 (The Throw-In) to impose a minimum distance requirement for opponents. The Board noted that, with this modification, all restarts conducted by players now mandate that opponents be some minimum distance away so as not to interfere with the taking of the restart.
In the case of a throw-in, the Board specified that opponents must be at least two meters from the thrower. USSF has indicated that two yards is an acceptable alternative to two meters.
Since the appearance of this requirement, referees have raised questions about the correct method of enforcing it. The purpose of this memorandum is to provide guidance on managing the minimum distance requirement at a throw-in.
- First and foremost, all procedures, including those described below, must be discussed in the pregame meeting, particularly the division of responsibilities between the referee and the nearest assistant referee.
- Second, USSF recommends that the minimum distance requirement be enforced based on the same principles and guidelines used in connection with the ten yard minimum distance requirement in Law 13 (The Free Kick).
The following points briefly summarize these principles and guidelines.
- Quick throw-ins are preferable
- The referee should interfere with the throw-in restart as little and as seldom as possible
- If the thrower requests assistance in enforcing the minimum distance, the referee should:
- Clearly announce that the throw-in cannot be taken except by a signal from the referee (ceremonial restart) and
- Establish the minimum distance quickly and fairly
- Blatant and obvious violations of the minimum distance which interfere with the thrower can be considered misconduct and should be dealt with appropriately
Several issues are specific to the throw-in.
- The minimum distance is measured from the touchline. The fact that a player may perform the throw-in from as much as a yard back from the touchline does not permit an opponent to be closer than two yards from the touchline.
- The minimum distance from the touchline is measured from the point where the ball will actually enter the field. The fact that the thrower may take the throw-in from as much as a yard up or down the touchline from where the ball left the field does not permit an opponent to be closer than two yards from this point.
- An opponent is not permitted to jump about and wave his or her arms if, in the opinion of the referee, this action unfairly distracts or impedes the thrower even if the opponent is more than two yards from the thrower. Referees are strongly encouraged to prevent such behavior from occurring or interfering with the restart.
Memo from Alfred Kleinatis on Ball Handling Offense
Recent incidents in the professional leagues involving possible handling offenses have caused considerable comment and debate. For those not officiating the match, multiple camera angles, instant replay, and slow-motion viewing make the debate easier because they allow a leisurely analysis of the facts well after the relevant decision has to be made.
The Laws of the Game declare that a direct free kick is given to the opposing team if a player “handles the ball deliberately (except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area).” This simple statement defines one of the ten listed offenses in the first part of Law 12 (Fouls and Misconduct) and lies at the historical and traditional heart of soccer, a game played with all parts of the body other than the hands. Only the goalkeeper is exempt from this restriction and only while within his own penalty area.
What are the characteristics of a clear handling offense?
- A player deliberately carries, strikes, or propels the ball with the hand or arm
- It is the player’s action that initiates the contact with the ball
What characteristics of ball contact are clearly not handling offenses?
- The ball strikes the hand or arm (i.e., the ball initiates the contact)
- The contact is accidental (not the result of action by the player)
- The contact is the result of a purely reflexive effort at self-protection
What are the standards of judgment which the referee will apply when the handling offense is not immediately clear?
- The distance or time within which the player had to react to avoid contact – if there was time to avoid the contact, the likelihood of an offense is greater
- The position of the player’s hand or arm at the time of the contact – if the hand or arm is carried in an unnatural or unusual position (e.g., high up in the air or, while defending against a free kick, far away from the body), the likelihood of an offense is greater
- Directing the ball after initial accidental or reflexive contact – if the player takes advantage to control or push the ball away, a handling offense has occurred
The referee, with input from the assistant referees, must make the immediate decision based on the best available evidence in an increasingly fast-paced game. This difficult decision must be respected and final.
|
|
|
|
|
