When is there no offside offence, and what counts as deliberate play?

No offside offence (Law 11.3): a player cannot be offside when receiving the ball directly from a goal kick, a throw-in or a corner kick.

Deliberate play (Law 11.2): a player in an offside position who receives the ball from an opponent who deliberately played it (including by deliberate handball) is not considered to have gained an advantage, unless it was a deliberate save by an opponent. Deliberate play (excluding deliberate handball) is when a player has control of the ball with the possibility of passing it to a team-mate, gaining possession or clearing it. An inaccurate or unsuccessful pass, attempt or clearance is still deliberate play.

IFAB's indicators that a player was in control of the ball:

• the ball travelled from distance and the player had a clear view of it
• the ball was not moving quickly
• the direction of the ball was not unexpected
• the player had time to coordinate their body movement (it was not instinctive stretching or jumping, or a movement with limited contact or control)
• a ball on the ground is easier to play than one in the air

Goalkeeper throws: when the goalkeeper throws the ball, the offside position is judged at the moment the goalkeeper releases it.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 11 (Offside): https://www.theifab.com/laws/latest/offside/