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Offside Rule

Offside Position

A player is in an offside position if "he is nearer to his opponents' goal line than both the ball and the second last opponent", unless he is in his own half of the field of play. A player level with the second last opponent is considered to be in an onside position. Note that the last two defenders can be either the goalkeeper and another defender, or two ordinary defenders. Also note that offside position is determined when the ball is touched/played by a team-mate — a player's offside position status is not then altered by them or defenders running forwards or backwards.

It is important to note that being in an offside position is not an offence in itself.

Offside Offence

A player in an offside position is only committing an offside offence if, "at the moment the ball touches or is played by one of his team", the player is in the referee's opinion involved in active play by: interfering with play; interfering with an opponent; or gaining an advantage by being in that position. Determining whether a play is in "active play" can be complex. A player is not committing an offside offence if the player receives the ball directly from a throw-in, goal kick or corner kick.

With the upcoming FIFA Confederations Cup 2005, there is a clarification of exactly how to interpret "interfering with play", "interfering with an opponent" and "gaining an advantage by being in an offside position".

The new wording, approved by the IFAB, clarifies three issues of the offside law where a player is actively in play - whether he is interfering with play, interfering with an opponent or gaining an advantage by being in an offside position.

The new decisions are as follows:

• Interfering with play means playing or touching the ball passed or touched by a team mate.

• Interfering with an opponent means preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent's line of vision or movements or making a gesture or movement which, in the opinion of the referee, deceives or distracts an opponent.

• Gaining an advantage by being in an offside position means playing a ball that rebounds to him off a post or crossbar or playing a ball that rebounds to him off an opponent having been in an offside position.

Sources: Answers.com