A still image from a football replay can look decisive while leaving out essential information. Before drawing a conclusion, identify the relevant touch, the player's position and what the player did next. A cropped frame is a piece of evidence, not a complete explanation.
The following examples are invented. They offer a way to read a replay and refer back to IFAB Law 11; they are not judgments about a current match or substitutes for the match officials' decision.
Keep position and involvement separate
Under Law 11, an offside position alone is not an offence. Position involves eligible parts of the head, body or feet in the opponents' half and nearer their goal line than both the ball and second-last opponent. Hands and arms do not count; being level is not an offside position.
The relevant team-mate touch supplies the timing reference. Generally this is its first contact, while a goalkeeper's throw uses the last contact. A positioned player is penalised only on becoming involved in active play as the law describes. There is no offside offence from receiving directly from a goal kick, throw-in or corner kick.
Those are rule summaries. For a disputed incident, consult the complete law, including its detailed treatment of interference, rebounds, saves and deliberate play.
Ask three questions of the clip
| Question | Evidence to look for | What may be missing |
|---|---|---|
| When is position assessed? | The relevant touch by a team-mate | A still chosen after the pass |
| Where are the reference points? | Ball, eligible body parts and opponents | A cropped ball or unseen opponent |
| How does the player become involved? | The subsequent sequence | Everything after the freeze-frame |
These questions can produce different answers. A frame might help with position while telling you almost nothing about involvement. A full clip might show involvement while still leaving the precise timing reference unclear.
Work through an invented example
Imagine Harbour's winger plays a pass towards two attackers. The shared image shows the attackers running forward after the ball has left the winger. One appears beyond a visible defender, but the ball and the opposite side of the pitch are outside the crop.
The cautious description is: “This image does not show all the reference points or establish the touch moment.” Calling the decision wrong from that image alone would require filling the gaps with assumptions.
Now imagine a wider replay shows the relevant touch and the positions more clearly. That is better evidence for the positioning question. Continue watching to identify which player receives the pass or affects an opponent. Do not stop merely because the wider frame looks more convincing.
The invented example illustrates an evidence workflow rather than supplying an offside verdict. Real incidents can require details that a short social-media clip omits.
Do not make the goalkeeper a fixed reference
The familiar phrase “last defender” can distract from the actual reference in the law: the second-last opponent, together with the ball. Identify the opponents visible in the relevant scene rather than assuming a player has a fixed place because of their usual role.
A useful replay note names the observed references: “ball visible; two opponents visible; touch moment unclear.” That note is more informative than “looks offside” because another viewer can identify which evidence still needs checking.
Describe uncertainty without choosing a side
Use narrow statements that match what the footage establishes. “The player appears ahead in this later frame” is different from “the player was ahead at the relevant touch”. Likewise, “the player never touches the ball in this crop” does not establish everything about possible interference.
If you have the official match report or decision explanation, keep it separate from your visual observation. A report tells you what decision was recorded; your replay note describes what you can inspect in the footage.
This distinction helps a discussion stay useful even when two viewers disagree. They can compare timing, crop and sequence rather than trading unsupported conclusions.
Questions about replay evidence
Is an offside position an offence by itself?
No. Law 11 distinguishes position from involvement in active play. Read the full conditions before describing an offence.
Why does the selected freeze-frame matter?
A later frame can show a different position from the relevant touch. Establish the timing reference instead of assuming every paused image represents it.
Can a cropped image settle every incident?
No. A crop can omit the ball, opponents or subsequent involvement. Record what is missing and seek fuller evidence.
For more sporting explanations, read the i8 Live sports information page and our football forecasts guide. The illustrations and examples here are educational, not footage of a real incident.
Sources
- Law 11: OffsideIFAB · 2026-10-13
