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Attacking offences
Clear Line

Attacking offences

The term attacking possession phase (APP) refers to the period when the attacking team is in possession of the ball, immediately before a goal, penalty, red card given for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity (DOGSO) or a second yellow card for stopping a promising attack (SPA). We examine what referees must consider in their decision-making, and where VAR should intervene if required.
Overview Offside Foul / handball Foul before ball in play Overview Offside Foul / handball Foul before ball in play

Offside

Being in an offside position is not an offence in itself. Where an attacker in an offside position simply touches a ball played by a team-mate, that is a matter of fact and is covered under the section explaining factual decisions. Here, we address the harder question of what else an attacker can do from an offside position.

  • VAR should recommend penalising an offence where a player in an offside position interferes with an opponent, challenges for the ball, clearly attempts to play it or gains an advantage after a rebound or deflection.
  • VAR should recommend awarding the goal, penalty or card where the player in an offside position clearly does none of those things.
  • VAR should not intervene if the available footage does not clearly show that an offence occurred.

The rationale

Being in an offside position is not an offence. It only becomes one when the attacker does something with it. This is why the referee watches the attacker rather than the line of offside, assessing whether the player went for the ball, obstructed the goalkeeper’s view or affected an opponent’s ability to play.

Two players can be standing in identical positions but only one commits an offence, because they were involved in the play.

What referees consider when making a decision

  • What impact did the attacker in an offside position have on an opponent?
  • What were the movement and actions of the attacker in an offside position?
  • What was the distance between the attacker in an offside position and the ball?
  • What was the distance between the attacker in an offside position and the opponent?
  • What was the position of the attacker in an offside position on the field of play (e.g. inside the goal area)?
  • Did the attacker gain an advantage after the ball rebounded or was deflected off a goalpost, the crossbar or an opponent?

✅ When VAR should recommend penalising an offence by a player in an offside position

Playing or touching a ball passed by a team-mate is the most straightforward offside offence and is covered in the Factual Decisions section of Clear Line. Other situations are detailed below.

An offside offence is determined when an attacker:

  • interferes with the goalkeeper (or another opponent) by clearly obstructing their line of vision. (Video 1 below)
  • challenges an opponent for the ball. (Video 2)
  • clearly attempts to play the ball, impacting on an opponent. (Video 3)
  • makes an action which clearly impacts the ability of an opponent to play the ball. (Video 4)
  • gains an advantage by playing the ball or interfering with an opponent when the ball has rebounded or been deflected off a goalpost or the crossbar, or saved by an opponent.

Video 1 – Offside: Attacker clearly obstructs goalkeeper line of vision

Video 2 – Offside: Attacker challenges opponent for ball

Video 3 – Offside: Attacker clearly attempts to play ball and impacts opponent

Video 4 – Offside: Attacker makes obvious action that clearly impacts opponents ability to play ball

✅ When VAR should recommend awarding the goal, penalty, red card for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity or second yellow card for stopping a promising attack

No offence is deemed to be committed when the player in an offside position clearly does not:

  • interfere with the goalkeeper (or any other opponent) by obstructing their line of vision (Video 5)
  • challenge an opponent for the ball (Video 6)
  • attempt to play the ball
  • make any action which impacts on the ability of an opponent to play the ball (Video 6)

Video 5 – Offside: Attacker does not obstruct goalkeeper line of vision

Video 6 – Offside: Attacker does not make obvious action that impacts opponent or challenge for ball

A decision standing after a check is not VAR failing to act. It means VAR has found no clear and obvious error to correct.