Frank Christian
The Premier League has announced the introduction of Semi-automated Offside Technology (SAOT) from the 2024/25 season, expected to be operational around September or October.
Concerns have been raised in recent years about the time taken for VAR checks on offside decisions, lack of transparency for stadium fans, and errors in decision-making.
A specific incident in a Liverpool versus Tottenham Hotspur match led to a legitimate goal being disallowed due to miscommunication among officials.
SAOT, already utilized in the UEFA Champions League and major international tournaments, will replace the previous Hawk-Eye system that utilized gridlines and calibrated cameras to determine offside positions.
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The Premier League’s official statement indicates unanimous agreement among clubs for the introduction of SAOT to enhance efficiency in offside decisions.
The new technology will ensure quicker and more consistent virtual offside line placement using optical player tracking, enhancing the experience for both stadium and broadcast viewers.
When to Expect Semi-automated Offsides in the Premier League
The SAOT system is set to be implemented in the Premier League around September or October 2024, after approximately one month into the 2024/25 season.
Delays are anticipated as the technology requires extensive testing for reliability post installation of necessary cameras in top-flight stadiums.
SAOT trials and analysis are ongoing, with expectations for operational readiness after one of the autumn international breaks, ensuring reliability prior to full-scale use.
Utilization of Semi-automated Offsides in the Premier League
SAOT aims to eliminate the need for VAR officials to draw grid lines on still images for tight offside calls, streamlining goal review processes and reducing the likelihood of human errors.
The technology involves special cameras tracking multiple points on players’ bodies and utilizing a ball-embedded chip to produce 3D images for determining offside positions, facilitating fair and accurate decisions for referees.
Time-saving Benefits of SAOT
Implementation of SAOT is expected to reduce decision-making time by approximately 30 seconds per incident, enabling assistant referees to flag offsides promptly during live play based on instant results.
A variant of SAOT was employed in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with the average offside decision time being 25 seconds, illustrating the efficiency of the technology.
Similar technologies are already operational in Serie A and will be introduced in La Liga from the 2024/25 season, following their successful utilization in Euro 2024 by UEFA.
