The Ref Stop

Offside/penalty

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Balls floated in and the forward is brought down before a proper challenge for the ball can occur.
Laws of the game suggest that a penalty should be awarded, unless im reading this wrong.

In situations where:

a player moving from, or standing in, an offside position is in the way of an opponent and interferes with the movement of the opponent towards the ball, this is an offside offence if it impacts on the ability of the opponent to play or challenge for the ball; if the player moves into the way of an opponent and impedes the opponent’s progress (e.g. blocks the opponent), the offence should be penalised under Law 12

a player in an offside position is moving towards the ball with the intention of playing the ball and is fouled before playing or attempting to play the ball, or challenging an opponent for the ball, the foul is penalised as it has occurred before the offside offence

an offence is committed against a player in an offside position who is already playing or attempting to play the ball, or challenging an opponent for the ball, the offside offence is penalised as it has occurred before the foul challenge
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So if the ball is mid-air, not quite near the attacking its aimed for, and he is brought down are you giving penalty or offside. Yes the player was just about offside when played but the above criteria has yet to kick in, especially considering the next bit...

In situations where:

a player moving from, or standing in, an offside position is in the way of an opponent and interferes with the movement of the opponent towards the ball, this is an offside offence if it impacts on the ability of the opponent to play or challenge for the ball; if the player moves into the way of an opponent and impedes the opponent’s progress (e.g. blocks the opponent), the offence should be penalised under Law 12

a player in an offside position is moving towards the ball with the intention of playing the ball and is fouled before playing or attempting to play the ball, or challenging an opponent for the ball, the foul is penalised as it has occurred before the offside offence

an offence is committed against a player in an offside position who is already playing or attempting to play the ball, or challenging an opponent for the ball, the offside offence is penalised as it has occurred before the foul challenge
Click to expand...

So, is it contradicting or should a penalty be given before offside?
 
The Ref Stop
From leeds Brentford yes? Was never a pen to begin with so at least they didn't end up giving it

But 'foul' was surely before any offside offence
 
Agree, at the very least it was a subjective decision so I was expecting an OFR.

That said, it was never a penalty in the first place so I’d say they somehow reached the correct outcome.
 
es1 said:
From leeds Brentford yes? Was never a pen to begin with so at least they didn't end up giving it

But 'foul' was surely before any offside offence
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Im not actually watching the game.
I've been asked the question from my brother so assume so but as not sure and not seen anything I have asked in here and not the tv thread as I can not be sure where from.
Unfortunately im at work (work every sunday).
He is also a referee so could be from one of his games.

I tried to explain to him that my interpretation is that it would be a foul unless the defender has been drawn in to a challenge similar to how they've been given for offside goals in front of keepers etc.
 
PGMO refs don't give penalties if the fouled player isn't going to reach the ball so wouldn't make sense to give them here.

Not seen the incident.
 
Just seen something similar in the Wrexham v Sheff Utd game

Ball played through towards an offside attacker, defender raises arm appealing for offside and handballs it before the ball gets to the attacker and the flag is raised.

Why is that not a penalty?
 
es1 said:
Just seen something similar in the Wrexham v Sheff Utd game

Ball played through towards an offside attacker, defender raises arm appealing for offside and handballs it before the ball gets to the attacker and the flag is raised.

Why is that not a penalty?
Click to expand...
Well as you've described it it sounds like it should have been if it occurred before the offside happened. Hard to say definitively without seeing it.
 
Found this..

Must admit took me several watches to see handball.

streamin.link

Video - 929b12fa

Video was uploaded to Streamin.me on Dec 26, 2025.
streamin.link streamin.link

Should be a penalty. Law, again, says the player is only offside when impacting the defender (when not playing the ball). How does the defender know he is 100% in an offside position? Its actually really close.
He hasn't impacted the defender being there (forcing him to play the ball etc). He is appealing for offside and raised his hands in doing so.
If we allow this, which clearly was allowed yesterday, then you'll be allowing players to catch the ball next if they believe a player is offside as part of an appeal. Can argue slight differences but overall they're very much the same concept. Both (this and my example) appealing for offside and both are handball offences. Appealing for a foul/offside doesnt take away the first offence which would now be handball as offside has yet to be met.
 
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Assuming the ball touched the hand (looks like it did) , it should have been a penalty. At the time of the handball offence, the player in offside position had not committed an offside offence. I don't think he ever did but that is a lot more subjective.

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I think the justification for OS would be diagram 4 in the guidance regarding interference with play: “ A player in an offside position (A) may be penalised before playing or touching the ball, if, in the opinion of the referee, no other team-mate in an onside position has the opportunity to play the ball.” not sure I like that as an application, but I think it is justifiable. I also think the defender is really, really playing with fire—even if the AR flag had already gone up.
 
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