A goalkeeper takes a goal kick and makes a long pass to an attacker (team-mate) who is in an offside position. The attacker controls the ball and is then fouled by a defender outside their penalty area (careless tackle which stops a promising attack, SPA). What is the correct decision?

Question

Accepted Answer

There is no offside offence if a player receives the ball directly from a goal kick, so the referee penalises the defender’s foul and awards a direct free kick for the attacker’s team. The defender is cautioned (yellow card) for unsporting behaviour (SPA offence).