For the first time, semi-automated offside technology will be used in English domestic football during the fifth round of the FA Cup. The Football Association (FA) confirmed on Thursday that the technology will be implemented in the seven matches hosted at Premier League stadiums.
Following successful live trials in the Emirates FA Cup, the FA revealed that the Premier League plans to roll out the system later this season.
The aim of the new technology is to reduce human subjectivity in offside decisions by relying on automated processes to make the calls.
Currently, when a player scores in a close offside situation, video assistant referees (VAR) must review three key factors: the moment the ball is played, the position and angle of the defender’s body, and the position and angle of the attacker. With the new system, all three of these decisions will be made automatically by the technology.
The technology uses artificial intelligence to track both the ball and player movements, automatically determining whether a player is onside or offside.
To support this, custom cameras have been installed under the roofs of all 20 Premier League stadiums to capture essential elements for offside decisions.
Premier League clubs gave unanimous approval for the use of semi-automated offside technology in the 2024-25 season in April. Initially scheduled for October 2024, the rollout was delayed to allow for additional testing.
UEFA had already introduced the technology in the Champions League starting in the 2022-2023 season.
The FA stated that the new system would improve the accuracy and speed of the offside line placement through optical player tracking and provide enhanced virtual graphics for both in-stadium and broadcast experiences.
While semi-automated offside technology will improve the efficiency of decision-making, the FA emphasized that it does not affect the accuracy of the calls.
VAR will also be used in all eight fifth-round FA Cup ties, including the match at Championship side Preston, with in-stadium announcements from referees regarding VAR decisions.
The fifth round of the FA Cup is set for the weekend of Saturday, 1 March.
SOURCE: BBC
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