Semi-automated offside technology is set to make its debut in English domestic football during the upcoming fifth round of the FA Cup. The Football Association announced on Thursday that the technology will be utilized in the seven matches held at Premier League stadiums. This move comes after a successful trial run in the Emirates FA Cup, paving the way for potential implementation in the Premier League later in the season.
The introduction of this technology aims to reduce human subjectivity in decision-making by replacing certain officiating calls with automated processes. Currently, when a player scores in a contentious offside situation, VAR officials are tasked with determining key factors such as the timing of the kick, the positioning and angle of the defender, and the positioning of the attacker. With the new system, these decisions will be automatically generated by artificial intelligence, which analyzes player and ball movements to determine the offside position.
To support this initiative, specialized cameras have been installed in all 20 Premier League stadiums to monitor crucial elements in offside decisions. Premier League clubs unanimously agreed to implement this technology for the 2024-25 season, with a planned launch in October 2024. However, the rollout was postponed to allow for additional testing and fine-tuning of the system. UEFA has already introduced semi-automated offside technology in the Champions League starting from the 2022-2023 season.
The FA highlighted that the new technology will enable more precise placement of the virtual offside line through optical player tracking, enhancing the overall experience for both fans in the stadium and those watching on television. While it does not impact the accuracy of decision-making, it significantly improves the efficiency and speed of the process. Alongside the implementation of semi-automated offside technology, all eight FA Cup fifth-round matches will feature VAR, with referees making in-stadium announcements. The fifth round is scheduled to take place over the weekend of Saturday, 1 March
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