Premier League clubs have unanimously approved the use of semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) for the 2024-25 season.
According to the Premier League, the plan is to implement the system after one of the international breaks in September or October.
The technology was first used by FIFA at the 2022 Men’s World Cup in Qatar and has since been tested at the 2021 Arab Cup and Club World Cup.
The system is expected to reduce the average length of a video assistant referee (VAR) check for offside by 31 seconds.
The Premier League has stated that the SAOT system will provide quicker and more consistent placement of the virtual offside line, based on optical player tracking.
Additionally, it will produce high-quality broadcast graphics to enhance the in-stadium and broadcast experience for supporters.
The system aims to be introduced next season for FA Cup ties hosted by Premier League clubs, as well as the semi-finals and final at Wembley Stadium.
However, decisions regarding whether a player in an offside position is interfering with play, or whether a player is onside where a defensive player has touched the ball and the contact has been deemed deliberate, will still be made subjectively by the on-field referee.
The use of VAR for offside calls has been a controversial subject in the top flight, with many high-profile incidents dominating the headlines in recent seasons.
The hope is that the introduction of SAOT will reduce the potential for mistakes and increase confidence in decision-making, although the current manual crosshair placement will remain available as a backup in the event of SAOT failure.
While the technology will not completely eliminate delays, league officials believe it should provide quicker decisions, particularly on marginal calls that often take a long time to resolve.
Clubs should have greater confidence in decision-making, and hopefully, no offsides will be missed.
Overall, the introduction of SAOT is seen as a positive step forward for the Premier League.
