Several Premier League teams have criticized VAR decisions in some of their latest fixtures. But the top clubs unanimously backed the introduction of a new VAR technology. The Premier League said in a recent statement, At a Premier League Shareholders’ meeting today, clubs unanimously agreed on the introduction of Semi-Automated Offside Technology (SAOT).
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. 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.”
How Will Semi-Automated Offside Technology Work?
Each Premier League club will install 10 bespoke cameras in its stadium. They will optimally track players during matches, and record relevant extremities and 29 data points on their limbs. These will include a player’s head, knees, toes, and upper arms. Besides, the new VAR offside system will monitor each player’s position throughout the match.
AI will process ball and player data before alerting VAR once it detects an offside. The VAR will assess the offside line and kick point’s accuracy, and notify the referee if an offside footballer is active. Then, the referee can change or confirm the VAR decision. Still, the referee will check the monitor before changing an offside decision.
The Premier League’s SAOT will differ from FIFA’s system at the World Cup. The latter has a sensor in match balls that enhances a kick point’s accuracy. But the Premier League, Champions League, and several European leagues don’t install sensors inside balls.
Semi-automated offside technology’s tracking system runs at 50 frames each second, resembling domestic leagues’ offside technology. But the new technology will easily detect a slight change in the ball’s direction. AI will offer consistent data as it interpolates ball and player movements.
Launch New Offside Technology Now?
EPL has tested several SAOT providers for over a year and requires more time before it stops using Hawk-Eye, its current VAR system. The league will perform more tests on the new offside technology and conduct extensive analysis for the rest of this season.
It plans to introduce the semi-automated offside technology after one autumn international break. Nevertheless, the Premier League hasn’t confirmed whether it will do so in October, November or September.
Will SAOT Affect the Next Season’s Integrity?
SAOT has a higher accuracy compared to Hawk Eye. Therefore, we might start seeing more disallowed goals soon, once the Premier League launches it. Goals’ tolerance levels will change fast.
UEFA started using SAOT in the 2022/2023 Champions League’s group stage and FIFA introduced it in the Qatar World Cup. Pierluigi Collina, a former match official stated in 2022, “We expect that semi-automated offside technology can take us a step further.
Sometimes, the process of checking a possible offside takes too long, especially when the offside incident is very tight. This is where semi-automated offside technology comes in – to offer faster and more accurate decisions.”
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