Rob Styles

[nevillew]

In that instance even if he's off the pitch he's still offside. Just like if a defender stands behind the goal-line for a direct freekick [and then steps up onto it after the ball is played] he would be playing every attacking player onside (assuming the goalkeeper was where you'd expect him to be).

You can't be affecting the game or offside if you're off the pitch. The offsideness of an attacker is "when the ball is played"

If the defender claims the attacker was offside because the defender was behind the goalline, I believe the correct decision would be for the free kick to be retaken, and the defender to be cautioned for leaving the pitch without the referee's permission. (because he was seeking to gain an advantage by doing so in hoping the attacker would be offside) this is not the same as defending a corner etc.

Any qualified referees care to clear this up ?

[dell boy]

You can't be affecting the game or offside if you're off the pitch. The offsideness of an attacker is "when the ball is played"

If the defender claims the attacker was offside because the defender was behind the goalline, I believe the correct decision would be for the free kick to be retaken, and the defender to be cautioned for leaving the pitch without the referee's permission. (because he was seeking to gain an advantage by doing so in hoping the attacker would be offside) this is not the same as defending a corner etc.

Any qualified referees care to clear this up ?

The kick would not be retaken, you are correct by stating when the ball is played. If an able player leaves the pitch after the ball is kicked he is active. If the player leaves the pitch before the ball is kicked he would be booked for unsporting behaviour and the kick would be retaken.

[nevillew]

Thanks Ref.

[Colin Todd]

But the rules are stupid in this scenario.  Refs (rightly) dont just book players whos' momenteum makes them run or slide off the pitch.

There is also a lack of consistancy here. If Pannuci was deemed to be playing van nistelrooy onside desepite being off the pitch at the euros, why was ebanks blake not deemed to be offside whilst off the pitch ?   surely the same should apply to both defenders and attackers in this kind of scenario?