Goal or offside play?

[SamG]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

A1 is taking a corner kick, and goalie D1 is closely marking A2 in the middle of the penalty area. The kick is a head-high hard one that seems aimed at A2. However, A3 comes running from afar into the PA on the side closer to A1, and heads the ball into the near part of the goal. At the time A3 headed the ball, he was farther from D's goal line than was A2, and no player of D besides D1 was closer to D's goal. D1 had no chance at the ball where he was positioned, and as long as he thought the corner kick was going to A1, he was going to stay there. A2 was nowhere near D1's line of sight to A3 or the ball.

Do you disallow the goal for A2's being offside and clearly having had the attention of D1 when A3 played the ball? Or do you allow the goal because at the instant A3 played it, A2's offside position was irrelevant in getting D1's attention?

Not a ref, but my understanding is there is no possibility of offside on the corner kick itself. The ball is assumed to be on the touchline. Since, in order to be offside, the offending player needs to be between the ball and the goal, and that can't happen on a corner, in your situation, good goal.

Now, if A1 took the corner, then A2 played it to A3, it would be possible for A3 to offside. But A1 to A3 to goal? Good goal.

Also keep in mind, it's not distance to the GOAL that matters, but distance to the goal LINE. If you picture attacker A1 with the ball at the top of the 18 yard box, attacker A2 actually at the corner arc, and defender D1 at PK spot, if A1 passes to A2, offside should be called. It doesn't matter that D1 is physically closer to the goal.