Premier League launch assertion as new offside expertise will get begin date this season
The Premier League have confirmed that they will begin using semi-automated offside technology from April 12, after debuting in the FA Cup and being implemented in the Champions League
The Premier League have announced they will be introducing semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) starting April 12.
The system, which received FIFA’s green light after its debut at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, has already been adopted by LaLiga, Serie A, and the Champions League.
Designed to simplify the adjudication of close offside calls, SAOT automates crucial aspects of the decision-making process, designed to speed up decisions and reduce human error. English football got its first taste of the technology during this season’s FA Cup fifth round.
The Premier League has now confirmed they are following suit, announcing in a statement: “The Premier League will introduce semi-automated offside technology on Saturday 12 April (Match Round 32). This follows non-live testing in the Premier League and live operation in the FA Cup this season. Semi-automated offside technology automates key elements of the offside decision-making process to support the video assistant referee (VAR).
“It provides more efficient placement of the virtual offside line, using optical player tracking, and generates virtual graphics to ensure an enhanced in-stadium and broadcast experience for fans. The technology maintains the integrity of the process while enhancing the speed, efficiency, and consistency of offside decision-making.
“The Premier League has worked in collaboration with PGMOL and sports data and technology company Genius Sports to develop the new semi-automated offside technology system.”
However, the system hasn’t been without faults. In November, Barcelona had a goal incorrectly disallowed against Real Sociedad as the technology mistook the defender’s boot for that of the onside Robert Lewandowski, an error overlooked by LaLiga’s VAR officials.
And last month in the FA Cup, fans from Bournemouth and Wolves expressed their embarrassment, chanting “this is embarrassing” during a painfully long seven-minute wait for a goal check, despite the implemented technology.
In 2023, FA head chief Mark Bullingham urged introducing semi-automated offsides into English football. “Of course, you used to have people complaining about the decisions and it is important to get decisions right and that’s a starting point, but in terms of technology the impression is: are there ways you can make decisions quicker?” remarked Bullingham.
“I think everyone hates that long pause in the stadium or at home. You are seeing technological innovations in terms of semi-autonomous offside and that could eventually go autonomous. That would mean very accurate decisions very, very quickly. I think that’s an area we absolutely need to keep exploring.”
