Can a throw-in lead to offside? When the rule does not apply

A player can stand behind the opposing defense and still avoid an offside call when receiving the ball directly from a throw-in. The same exception applies to a direct goal kick or corner.

The International Football Association Board’s current Laws of the Game specifically exclude these three restarts from offside offenses. So if a throw-in near the penalty area reaches an attacker behind the defenders, play continues even if the attacker’s position would normally be offside.

The exception ends when the next action begins. If the attacker receives the throw-in and then passes to a teammate, officials assess the teammate’s position when that new pass is made. The same principle applies after a goal kick or corner. A player who receives a corner directly is not offside, but normal rules apply if the ball is later played to that player again while they are in an offside position.

The article also stresses that simply standing in an offside position is not an offense. A player must become involved in active play, such as interfering with a teammate’s play, interfering with an opponent, or gaining an advantage from the position. Direct receptions from throw-ins, goal kicks and corners remain the specific exceptions.