What is the Premier League semi-automated offside technology? All you need to know

While the VAR was introduced four years ago, things haven’t quite gone according to plan for IFAB (International Football Association Board) and the VAR system itself. It has been heavily criticized for several reasons including taking too much time to decide with the offside rule among the key reasons for that. However, since it was introduced across football, IFAB made serious changes to the laws to help make things smoother.

That has helped to a certain degree but there are still a lot of grey areas around which has only made things even more complicated. However, the Telegraph had reported, in November 2023, that major changes were coming to VAR to make the process even smoother. That includes the offside rule as the Premier League has confirmed that it will introduce the Semi-Automated Offside Technology next season.

“At a Premier League Shareholders’ meeting today, clubs unanimously agreed to the introduction of Semi-Automated Offside Technology. The new system will be used for the first time in the Premier League next season, and it is anticipated the technology will be ready to be introduced after one of the autumn international breaks,” reads the statement on the Premier League’s official website.

“The technology will provide quicker and consistent placement of the virtual offside line, based on optical player tracking, and will produce high-quality broadcast graphics to ensure an enhanced in-stadium and broadcast experience for supporters.”

What is Semi-Automated Offside Technology?

Semi-automated offside technology has been in use in various competitions such as the Champions League, Serie A, and even the recent World Cup in Qatar. While not identical, a similar system was implemented with a chip inside the matchday ball. Unlike the Premier League, these competitions have seen quicker outcomes relayed to officials.

This technology has also been deployed in events like the Women’s World Cup and the Club World Cup, with further plans for its inclusion in the upcoming European Championship. The system employs camera footage and tracking software to determine player positions during potential offside situations, streamlining the process and reducing the average length of VAR decisions by 31 seconds in trials.

With this system, there’s no longer a need for VAR teams to manually add lines to camera images. Instead, graphics can be generated instantly for fans in stadiums. However, VARs may still be called upon to assess offside decisions in case of goal-scoring incidents, depending on the complexity of the situation.

How does Semi-Automated Offside Technology work?

The system usually entails 12 cameras strategically positioned in the stadium to track the ball and capture 29 data points on each player. While some setups incorporate a chip within the ball, it’s not always necessary. With this technology, decisions can be reached in mere seconds, speeding up the process by an average of 30 seconds.

Three-dimensional automated images will be displayed on large screens within the stadiums, providing fans with clear visualizations of the decisions. In cases where the semi-automated technology encounters issues, such as obstruction of cameras by multiple bodies, the current VAR system will serve as a backup.

Also Read: Real Madrid vs Man City player ratings as Phil Foden and Vinícius Júnior impress