At a recent Premier League Shareholders’ meeting, clubs voted to implement semi-automated offside technology for the upcoming season. This move is expected to reduce the number of decisions made using VAR and enhance the overall stadium and broadcast experience for supporters.
The decision to introduce this new technology comes after its successful use at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. However, the Premier League had previously resisted its introduction despite ongoing controversies with VAR in the league. Liverpool, for instance, raised concerns this season when VAR incorrectly upheld an offside decision against Luis Diaz at Tottenham Hotspur.
The semi-automated offside technology uses multiple cameras mounted underneath the roof of the stadium to track the ball and up to 29 data points of each individual player, 50 times per second, to calculate their exact position on the pitch. This will provide quicker and more accurate offside decisions than manual methods.
The new system will not be ready for the start of the 2024-25 season but is expected to be implemented before Christmas. The introduction of this technology marks a significant step forward in improving the accuracy and efficiency of offside decisions in the Premier League.
