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The law actually states that the striker has to make contact with the ball, which includes running towards the ball.

You are correct when you say, the defender has to be in control for phase change

Is that in all circumstances, Y4 (the striker needing to actually touch the ball), or specific to this instance?

Matt.

We are told to wait until the player touches the ball, or is making a direct run to it.

This allows for any other attacker who could be onside to get possession.

Did you see the Van Persie incident in the Man Utd v Chelsea game?

Matt.

I don't recall it, I watched MOTD as I had a game when the game was live...what happened?

A little bit similar to the thing I posted in the OP, ball through to Van Persie who was miles offside, but let it run through his legs, and had his hands up in that "I'm not going to touch the ball because I'm offside and I know it" gesture,such that the onrushing [Man Utd player, name unknown] (who started miles onside) might run through on goal. The lino flagged for offside as soon as the ball went past Van Persie and he was most upset about it.

Matt.

Tough one really, but he is moving towards the ball so I think it's all down to the specific situation. If he stood still with his hands up then that makes it easy to carry on. But he has moved to it within the same phase of play.

If I remember rightly I think Suarez's second goal against Norwich came from him nicking the ball off a defender, although rather than coming from an offside position, he came from inside the box when a goal kick was taken, which I believe means it should've been retaken.