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No offside directly from a throw-in, corner or goal kick

Understand the narrow restart exceptions without assuming offside is disabled for the whole move.

By ScoreZaap · · 2 min read

Three direct receipts are exempt

IFAB Law 11 states there is no offside offence when a player receives the ball directly from a goal kick, throw-in or corner kick. Directly is the important limit: it describes the receipt from that restart.

A hypothetical attacker beyond the defenders receiving a team-mate's throw-in is not penalised merely for that position on the direct receipt. Other offences can still occur, so the exception is not immunity from the rest of the Laws.

A later touch can create a new question

After another team-mate touches or plays the ball, the usual offside assessment can apply to the next phase. A corner does not switch off offside for every pass that follows.

The corner taker can also be in an offside position in a later phase after taking the kick. The restart's original label is not enough to establish the status at a subsequent touch.

A free kick is not on the list

Do not add free kicks or kick-offs to these three direct-receipt exceptions. Apply the relevant Law and actual position at the team-mate's touch rather than a broad claim that all restarts are exempt.

ScoreZaap's event labels give context, but a basic scorecard cannot locate every player at each touch. Wait for the confirmed decision in a real match. This guide explains the narrow exception, not a ruling from incomplete match data.

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