Premier League to Introduce Semi-Automated Offside Technology from 12 April
The Premier League will begin using semi-automated offside technology from Saturday, 12 April. This marks a major step in enhancing the accuracy and speed of offside decisions during matches.
Technology Aims to Improve Officiating
This new system is designed to assist officials in making quicker and more consistent offside calls by automating key parts of the process. It supports the video assistant referee (VAR) by removing some of the human subjectivity involved in tight decisions.
The system has already been tested during non-live trials in the Premier League and was first introduced to English football in the FA Cup fifth round earlier this year. It has also been successfully used in global competitions, including the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, as well as top leagues like Serie A, La Liga, and the Champions League.
Manchester City’s home fixture against Crystal Palace at 12:30 BST on 12 April will be the first Premier League match to use the new system.
How Semi-Automated Offside Technology Works
The technology automates three key decisions previously made by VAR officials: the exact moment the ball was played, the position of the last defender, and the position of the attacker at that moment.
Bespoke cameras installed beneath the roofs of all 20 Premier League stadiums will track both the ball and players. These cameras follow 10,000 data points on the bodies of the 22 players to accurately determine if an attacking player was beyond the last defender when the ball was played.
Artificial intelligence processes this information in real time to make an offside decision. VAR officials then review the output to ensure the correct call has been made. Once confirmed, the on-field referees inform the players of the result.
Enhanced Viewing for Fans
To provide transparency, a 3D animation of the offside decision, generated by the system, will be displayed on stadium screens and broadcast to viewers at home. This aims to give fans a clearer understanding of how the decision was reached.
The Premier League says the new system will improve “the speed, efficiency, and consistency of offside decision-making” and make the game fairer for everyone involved.
with inputs from Reuters
