The Premier League has officially announced the implementation of semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) beginning April 12, marking a significant advancement in officiating tools for England’s top flight.
This cutting-edge system, which first appeared at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, has already been integrated into LaLiga, Serie A, and the Champions League. English football fans experienced the technology earlier this season during the FA Cup fifth round matches.
“Semi-automated offside technology automates key elements of the offside decision-making process to support the video assistant referee (VAR),” the Premier League explained in their announcement. “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.”
According Soccertv365, The Premier League has collaborated with PGMOL and sports technology company Genius Sports to develop the system, which aims to increase both the speed and accuracy of offside decisions that have frequently caused controversy since VAR’s introduction.
Social media reaction to the announcement has been mixed, with some fans suggesting the timing could impact the title race. However, the technology hasn’t operated flawlessly elsewhere. Barcelona experienced an incorrect disallowance against Real Sociedad in November when the system mistook a defender’s boot for that of onside striker Robert Lewandowski. Additionally, FA Cup matches using the technology still experienced lengthy delays, with a seven-minute wait during a Bournemouth and Wolves fixture prompting fans to chant “this is embarrassing.”
FA head chief Mark Bullingham previously advocated for the technology, stating: “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.”
The system will debut on Match Round 32 as the Premier League seeks to improve officiating consistency during the crucial final stages of the season.