All video examples below come with the same explanations:
- there is no challenge on any opponents
- the referee should wait for the attacker to play the ball before making his decision
Reminder for the main referees:
The referee must know the offside law thoroughly and in situations where the flag is wrongly raised assess that the attacker did not play the ball nor challenge an opponent.
He should not accept the assistant's signal and should wave play on without hesitating.
Video nr 1
In this video we see an excellent decision by the main referee to allow play to continue! This should be taken as an example of how a referee should read the game and interpret Law 11. Sadly he later decided to change his decision.
By the Laws a flag is an indication, but a whistle is needed to stop play.
Of course there will be controversy and the credibility of the referees team suffers, but in cases like this the most important thing is a correct decision.
In an ideal scenario the assistant referee waits and does not raise the flag!
By the Laws a flag is an indication, but a whistle is needed to stop play.
Of course there will be controversy and the credibility of the referees team suffers, but in cases like this the most important thing is a correct decision.
In an ideal scenario the assistant referee waits and does not raise the flag!
Video nr 2
An example of the players not understanding the Law and/or being emotionally attached to the outcome. There is lot at stake in football and the players might try to change the referees´ mind by applying pressure on them.
This time it did not work, but as the previous video shows, sometimes it just might. Referees must stay calm and explain the reasons behind the decision if needed.
This time it did not work, but as the previous video shows, sometimes it just might. Referees must stay calm and explain the reasons behind the decision if needed.
Video nr 3
An outstanding decision by the assistant. This is the reason why the "ABC of wait and see" should be learned and deployed!
Video nr 4
Videos nr 5 - 11
By the Laws of The Game there are no offside offences in these videos - so raising the flag is incorrect.
Video nr 12
The player in an offside position makes a clear attempt to play the ball in a very close playing distance, impeding the goalkeepers movements, but play could be allowed to continue.
Stoppages disrupt the flow of the game. Therefore it might be good to wait 0,5 seconds longer in this situation. Offside is the correct call, but as the attacker receives no benefit then the referee could say "thank you" and indicate "play on" if the flag is raised, but the GK would like to play on.
Stoppages disrupt the flow of the game. Therefore it might be good to wait 0,5 seconds longer in this situation. Offside is the correct call, but as the attacker receives no benefit then the referee could say "thank you" and indicate "play on" if the flag is raised, but the GK would like to play on.
Video nr 13
An example of 3 good "wait and see" decisions made against the same player in 90 seconds.
Waiting this long seems quite unusual, but the referee chooses the safe way - according to the Law he may raise the flag earlier, but there is no must.
In the 2nd and 3rd moment the flag could have been raised 0,5 seconds earlier, but the main delay comes from the whistle which is coming with a 2 second delay.
The recommendation here would be about the head-set communication:
Waiting this long seems quite unusual, but the referee chooses the safe way - according to the Law he may raise the flag earlier, but there is no must.
In the 2nd and 3rd moment the flag could have been raised 0,5 seconds earlier, but the main delay comes from the whistle which is coming with a 2 second delay.
The recommendation here would be about the head-set communication:
- say "waiting" (when spotting someone in an offside position who could play the ball)
- it might be a good idea to add "the number or the name" also if possible
- the whistle can then come without delay when saying "offside, offside"
In the 2nd moment a foul is also committed - this is discussed in the "Foul or offside" thread