Additional Guidance
2. Save
Clarification
Law 11 outlines situations when an offside player is penalised by becoming involved inactive play and these include (p. 110):
- gaining an advantage by being in that position by playing a ball
- that rebounds or is deflected off the goalpost, crossbar or an opponent
- from a deliberate save by any opponent
A player in an offside position receiving the ball from an opponent, who deliberately plays the ball (except from a deliberate save by any opponent), is not considered to have gained an advantage.
As indicated in the last sentence a ‘save’ can be made by any player and is not limited to the goalkeeper. Therefore, The IFAB wishes to clarify that:
A ‘save’ is when a player stops a ball which is going into or very close to the goal with any part of his body except his hands (unless the goalkeeper within his own penalty
area).
NB: This clarification is consistent with the use of the word ‘save’ in Law 12 – Offences
by the Goalkeeper (p122).