Offside: position and offence are different
Standing beyond a defensive line does not, by itself, mean the referee must stop play. Offside decisions involve both a player’s position and their subsequent involvement.
The starting comparison involves the ball and the second-last opponent, rather than automatically the goalkeeper. Body parts that can legally score matter to the position assessment; hands and arms do not. A player in an offside position can then be penalised for relevant involvement in play.
That is why two similar freeze frames can produce different decisions. The timing of a team-mate’s touch, a player’s actions and the effect on opponents can matter. A still image without the surrounding action is often an incomplete explanation.
This is an introductory guide, not a replacement for the full law or a ruling on a particular clip. The IFAB’s current Law 11 provides the complete wording, exceptions and worked examples. Rules and authorised trials must be checked for the competition concerned.
Sources & further reading
Source links checked during preparation. Introductory interpretation, not live reporting. Read our standards.
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