Q75

[tim White]

Q ref 75; Have I misread the question? How can an offside player be allowed to interfere with play?

 

[SimonSmith]

Law 7 - Method of playing (key point is the last one!):

PLAYING A MATCH



A match is started by a kick-off.



After the kick-off, any player who is on-side may take the ball and run with it.



Any player may throw it or kick it.



Any player may give the ball to another player.



Any player may tackle, hold or shove an opponent holding the ball.



Any player may fall on the ball.

 

[tim White]

Taken in isolation, I agree. But you cannot tell me it is lawfull for an offside player to interfere with play by falling on the ball.:nono:

 

[SimonSmith]

I'm not. Telling you the the law book answer!

 

[mkottke]

At no time can an offside player interfer with play. Although, I think the question may be testing your knowledge that pertain to which actions by the opponent or teammate can put a player onside. Basically everything covered in Law 11, with respect to open field play.

 

[OB..]

The very last sentence in Law 7 is:
"Whatever a player does must be in accordance with he laws of the game."

I have always assumed that Law 7 provides a fall-back position for matters not otherwise covered. For example I think it is the right place to put a sentence saying "The game is to be played by players who are on their feet."

 

[Dixie]

You couldn't resist it, could you OB. Of course, one might then wonder why Law 14 allows the player on the ground to pass the ball. But writing that might itself be viewed as unsportsmanlike behaviour ....

 

[OB..]

I wasn't really intending to revive the discussion. It is just that it provided one of the few occasions when I thought Law 7 might actually be useful. YMMV.