A player (Team A) makes a long pass towards a forward (Team A) who is in an offside position. The pass does not reach the forward because a defender (Team B) controls the ball in the air by using their chest to play the ball towards the goalkeeper (Team B). The pass is inaccurate and the forward intercepts the ball. What is the correct decision?

Question

Accepted Answer

The referee allows play to continue (no offside offence) because the forward received the ball from the defender who had deliberately played the ball. The ball travelled from distance and the defender attempted to pass the ball to the goalkeeper. The fact that the pass was unsuccessful does not stop it being ‘deliberate play’.