Applying Law 11 (Offside) Correctly
D.C. United v. Red Bull N.Y. (April 2, 2006)

It was a magnificent direct free kick by Red Bull #10 (Djorkaeff). The shot from 30 yards out sailed untouched into the upper left corner of the DC United goal and represented the kind of exciting play that makes soccer "the beautiful game."

Unfortunately, the goal should not have been counted due to a violation of Law 11 (Offside) by two Red Bull attackers who were in an offside position at the time of the restart and who interfered with the United goalkeeper (#1, Perkins). A clip of this incident is below.

There is no dispute that Red Bull #19 (Henderson) and #6 (Stammler) were in an offside position at the time of the free kick. Both attackers were just inside the goal area with Henderson virtually in line between the United goalkeeper and the location of the free kick while Stammler was farther to the right. This put Henderson less than six yards in front of the goalkeeper. There was no strategic or tactical reason for these positions, nor had the players in question placed themselves in these positions as a result of dynamic play. It was a ceremonial restart and the positions of these players were deliberately chosen.

According to Law 11, a player in an offside position is not permitted to engage in any of the following activities:

• Interfere with play (playing or touching the ball). Neither attacker did this.
• Gain an advantage (playing a ball that rebounds from the goal post, crossbar, or defender). Neither attacker did this.
• Interfere with an opponent by clearly obstructing his movement. Neither attacker did this.
• Interfere with an opponent by clearly obstructing his line of sight. Henderson blocked the vision of the United goalkeeper.
• Interfere with an opponent by making a gesture or movement which, in the opinion of the referee, deceives or distracts an opponent. Both Henderson and Stammler, by deliberately moving to this particular offside position solely for the purpose of diverting the United goalkeeper's attention, violated this requirement.

The referee should evaluate whether or not a player in an offside position interferes with the opponent or play. The referee, before making a decision, must also consider the following additional variables:

1. Position of players on the field
2. Distance of the attacking player from the opponent(s), and
3. Flight of the ball.

For these reasons, the goal by Djorkaeff should have been disallowed.

The foundation for correctly deciding whether an offside offense has occurred is the opinion of the referee, but that opinion must be formed by the guidelines as stated above.

Obvious Goal Scoring Opportunities
August 10, 2005 - MetroStars vs DC United

Two incidents occurred during a match between the NY MetroStars and DC United on August 10, 2005, which highlight the need to understand and properly implement the send-off for interfering with an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. In both situations, the player was fouled while attacking the opponent's goal from within 20 yards.

The referee must quickly and accurately assess the criteria for a goal-scoring opportunity (the "4 Ds"):

• Distance to the goal,
• Distance of the ball,
• Direction of play, and
• Number of Defenders

In the 60th minute, Gaven (MetroStars # 24) played the ball several yards forward and to the right of the goal when he was fouled by Moreno (United #99). At the time, both the United goalkeeper and at least one other United player were between the foul and the United goal and therefore capable of defending if Gaven had kept control of the ball. Given these facts, several of the criteria (Direction, number of Defenders, and Distance to the ball) were not concretely obvious.

Gaven Fouled by Moreno Video Clip

In the 70th minute of the same match, United #16 (Carroll) was tackled by MetroStars # 3 (Leitch), tripped, and then kicked by Leitch from behind. At the time of these fouls, Carroll was running from left to right across the top of the penalty area. Due to this Direction of play, an obvious goal-scoring opportunity was not present.

Carroll Fouled by Leitch Video Clip

In these two situations, proper action by the referee required a steady and accurate evaluation of each of the four conditions required to send off a defender for interfering with an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. The foul by Moreno against Gaven was certainly close to meeting all the criteria but giving the red card requires that the conditions must be obvious. In the fouls by Leitch against Carroll, two and possibly three of the criteria for a goal-scoring opportunity were not clearly present. Accordingly, a red card in either situation would not have been justified for this type of misconduct.

Obvious Goal Scoring Opportunity
July 9, 2005 MetroStars vs LA Galaxy

On July 9, 2005, in a match between the MetroStars and the LA Galaxy (see attached clip), a foul was committed by Galaxy #15 Ugo Ihemelu against MetroStars #99 Ante Razov. While on a dead run, Razov had received a pass from his teammate Amado Guevara (#20) and had proceeded directly toward the goal. From the side, Ihemelu reached out, wrapped his left arm around Razov's waist, and turned him away from the ball while they were inside the penalty area.

The clip clearly demonstrates all four essential elements of interfering with an obvious goal scoring opportunity (the "4 Ds"):

• The attacker was moving directly toward the goal,
• Only one defender (the goalkeeper) was between the site of the foul and the goal,
• The foul was committed close to the goal, and
• The ball was within playing distance of the attacker who, but for the foul, would have been able to continue in possession.

Each one of these elements was clearly present. Referees must understand that they have no discretion in sending off a defender and showing the red card under these circumstances.

• To view the Windows Media Player clip click here

Obvious Goal Scoring Opportunity
July 9, 2005 MetroStars vs LA Galaxy

On July 9, 2005, in a match between the MetroStars and the LA Galaxy (see attached clip), a foul was committed by Galaxy #15 Ugo Ihemelu against MetroStars #99 Ante Razov. While on a dead run, Razov had received a pass from his teammate Amado Guevara (#20) and had proceeded directly toward the goal. From the side, Ihemelu reached out, wrapped his left arm around Razov's waist, and turned him away from the ball while they were inside the penalty area.

The clip clearly demonstrates all four essential elements of interfering with an obvious goal scoring opportunity (the "4 Ds"):

• The attacker was moving directly toward the goal,
• Only one defender (the goalkeeper) was between the site of the foul and the goal,
• The foul was committed close to the goal, and
• The ball was within playing distance of the attacker who, but for the foul, would have been able to continue in possession.

Each one of these elements was clearly present. Referees must understand that they have no discretion in sending off a defender and showing the red card under these circumstances.

• To view the Windows Media Player clip click here

Violent Conduct at match played on June 29, 2005
Columbus Crew and the Kansas City Wizards

Below are two clips, one from a distance and the other from closer in, of violent conduct committed in a match played on June 29 between the Columbus Crew and the Kansas City Wizards.

Crew #4, Robin Fraser, kicked Wizards #22, Davy Arnaud, in the 80th minute. Fraser and Arnaud had been competing for the ball and, as a result of tactics by Arnaud which Fraser thought were unfair, Fraser lost the challenge. At this point, Fraser kicked Arnaud as Arnaud was pulling away with the ball. The kick was

• Delivered from behind,
• To the upper leg of the opponent,
• In retaliation, and
• With no intent to play the ball.

A kick is an inherently violent act and, under the above circumstances, was clearly the sort of misconduct under Law 12 which must be handled by sending the offending player from the field and displaying the red card. Referees must act quickly and decisively in such cases for the safety of the players and to maintain the Spirit of the Game.

• To view Windows Media Player long shot click here
• To view Windows Media Player close-up click here