U.S. Soccer Referee Position Paper: May 4, 2007

U.S. Soccer's Referee Department breaks down an offside rule interpretation from an MLS match between the L.A. Galaxy and CD Chivas USA on April 28, 2007. A detailed analysis of this rule interpretation, and more, can be found at: ussoccer.com/laws/papers.jsp.html

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[Deandre0068]

TERRIBLE call!!!

[RightWinger16]

There was a passive offside call on the other striker going for the ball. Referees need to stop this nonsense of 'Passive' Offside calls. They think they see the play ahead of time. Well listen here linesmen, unless you play the ball, you dont know the play. So keep your damn flag down until someone who IS offside actually touches the ball.

[jkc313007666]

in 2010 FIFA ruled for the AR to keep the flag down when 2 players, 1 off and 1 on, go for a ball until the ball is actually touched. This video is from 2007 and the AR did not call Donovan offside but the other player who was making a run at the ball. Me, I'd leave the flag down anyway but in 2007 this was an accepted call

[hawkdalian]

player does not have to touch the ball to be considered involved in the offside play.

the reason we have referees in soccer games is not only because players like you don't know the rules, but also don't know how to shut their mouth.



[redsquall5]

@buccos2324 The offside is the most difficult call to make in the game. Either your instructor failed to impress this upon you, or you failed to pay attention.

[redsquall5]

@rslnerd You are incorrect. The reason we say "involved in the play" is because you dont have to touch the ball to be guilty of offside. The situation you described is used at thousands of ussf clinics every year to explain how a player can be guilty of offside. If in the opinion of the referee, the player in the offside position drew the defender, then he is guilty of offside. I agree with you about this particular play though. Ther ref made a judgement call and failled

[94samboy]

the blondie went for the ball, if he had left it he wouldnt be offside but he went for it but he was called offside NOT donovan

[shmo7]

@RightWinger16 Donovan was offside when the ball was passed to him. thier is no such thing as passive offside.

[chitybam94]

the blond guy went for the ball and thats offside

[northshore7x]

GREAT CALL..........outside defender steps up .........Donovan is offside..........in addition..........the referee is STANDING next to Donovan........learn your rules

[rslnerd]

The call was incorrect. Drawing defenders doesn't imply involvement in active play. If A takes a shot on goal from 20 yards out, and he has a teammate, B, in an offside position near the goal line, B cannot be ruled to have committed an offside offense if the goalkeeper cheated toward B to cover a possible pass. Likewise, the player in the offside position in this video cannot be deemed to have interfered by drawing defenders toward him.

[Qboy316]

@buccos2324 ha, the announcers clearly don't know what they are talking about. the ar had to have meant the player at the top was offside. he does lunge ahead right when the ball was kicked, so I can see how he got it wrong...