Injured players and the offside rule

Question: Mr Ref, what's the ruling on an injured attacking player in an offside position? Also, what if there is a defender laying injured playing people onside? What if the injured attacker rolled off of the field of play? Is it a caution?

Mr Ref says: Law 11 states that a player is not in an offside position if:

• He is in his own half of the field of play or
• He is level with the second-last opponent or
• He is level with the last two opponents

Unfortunately, the defender would indeed be playing the attackers onside, there is no wording in the LOTG that allows any exception to this

As for the injured attacker, providing he isn't interfering with play, then I see no reason why he should be given offside. If the attacker laying injured was involved in active play, by either interfering with an opponent or by gaining an advantage by being there, then yes, he would indeed be given offside.

It's not an offence in itself for a player who is in an offside position to step off the field of play to show the referee that he is not involved in active play. So, no an injured player rolling off of the field of play for treatment would not be cautioned. If for any reason the player then got up, and came back onto the pitch, and gained an advantage by doing so, and in the opinion of the referee this was for tactical reasons, the attacker would be cautioned for unsporting behaviour, as the player needs to ask the referee for permission to re enter the field of play

Got a question you want answered, then you too can ask Mr Ref, email us at mr-ref@pst-uk.co.uk