The Professional Referee Organization (PRO) weighed in on the controversial Chris Wondolowski goal from the San Jose Earthquakes’ 1-1 draw with Real Salt Lake on Friday, backing up referee Sorin Stoica's decision to let the goal stand.
In a summary by PRO training and development manager Paul Rejer, posted Wednesday on the PRO website, the reasoning behind allowing Wondolowski’s goal was explained.
The Quakes striker appeared to be in an offside position when he slotted home a deflected shot by teammate Shea Salinas. But Rejer says RSL midfielder Kyle Beckerman deliberately attempted to play the ball before it came to Wondolowski, erasing Wondolowski's offside position.
Citing FIFA’s 2014 amendments to the Laws of the Game regarding the offside rule, Rejer says “a player in an offside position receiving the ball from an opponent, who deliberately plays the ball (except from a deliberate save), is not considered to have gained an advantage.”
Rejer referred to the interpretation of the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the body that determines the Laws of the Game, which clarified that if “a defender makes a movement towards the ball, even if the ball does not go where it’s intended to, then that is regarded as a play, albeit a bad play.”
The Salinas shot appears to deflect off RSL defender Jamison Olave before it gets to Beckerman. And Rejer says that while it’s uncertain whether Olave played the ball intentionally, he feels that "it is definitely deliberately played by Beckerman," allowing the goal to stand.
