When are semi-automated offsides coming to the Premier League?

PREMIER LEAGUE fans will breathe a huge sigh of relief at the news that video assistant referees will no longer be drawing wonky lines across the pitch.

That’s because the English top flight have agreed that VARs will no longer make calls on offside – though they will still be used for other decisions – with Semi-Automated Offside Technology (SAOT) coming in for the 2024-25 season.

TNT SportsSAOT has been used with great success in the Champions League and Euro 2024[/caption]

SKY SPORTSLuis Diaz had a goal controversially ruled out by VAR for offside last season[/caption]

Fans were left fuming at refereeing controversies like Luis Diaz’s goal against Tottenham being ruled out and Arsenal being denied a goal at Brentford because of dodgy offside decisions.

SAOT technology has been used with great success during the Champions League, 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024 – although England fans were gutted at an extremely tight offside call that went Spain’s way in the final.

However, despite the joy at an updated offside system, Premier League fans will be made to wait for it.

What is Semi-Automated Offside Technology?

Sports tech company Genius Sports are the firm behind SAOT in the Premier League.

The tech is powered by artificial intelligence and promises to “minimise breaks in the game and deliver accuracy”, helping referees manage games more smoothly and with less controversy.

Mikel Oyarzabal scored as Spain won Euro 2024 with a decision that initially looked offside

But semi-automated offside technology quickly and clearly ruled it onside

Each Premier League ground will have new cameras installed with the GeniusIQ AI system able to create 3D renders of all players, the ball and the offside wall in just seconds.

That will enable officials to quickly and precisely make offside decisions – without the need to draw wonky lines on the pitch.

Premier League Chief Football Officer Tony Scholes said: “The introduction of semi-automated offside is an important move to maintain the flow of the game in the Premier League.

“We are confident that by using the newest and most accurate technology available we will see the time taken for offside decisions reduced significantly alongside a consistent application of the offside lines.

“The experience for all participants including supporters will also be enhanced through quicker communication and clearer imagery around offside decisions.”

What are semi-automated offsides?

PREMIER LEAGUE clubs have voted in the use of semi-automated offsides from the 2024-25 season.

The technology tracks 29 different points on the body of every player.

Together with a chip in the football, the tech then can produce almost instantaneous decisions, even on the tightest of calls.

These are then visualised with computer-generated 3D images which clearly show the offence on a screen for fans watching the broadcast from home.

Referees on the pitch will need to step in and intervene if the offside call is subjective – ie the player in an offside position does not touch the ball.

Here’s how it works:

Each ground will have up to 12 special cameras with limb-tracking technology.
These will focus on 29 goal-scoring body parts from every player on the pitch and will record their position 50 times per second.
During the World Cup in Qatar, the microchip in the ball sent back data points 500 times every second to determine the  precise instant it was played by an attacker OR a defender
That allowed the computer technology to alert the VAR that a player was in an offside position when the ball was played
But all decisions were then checked to ensure the attacker was interfering with play
The average time for an offside call in Qatar was cut to 25 seconds per incident
In future, a 3D animation will “show” the decision to fans in the stadium and via broadcasters, and this will be available by the next stoppage in play after the decision.

When will Semi-Automated Offside Technology be introduced in the Premier League?

The technology is being brought in for the 2024-25 season.

However, the cameras have not been installed in grounds around the country so they will NOT be in use for the first few weeks of the season.

There is currently no official date for when the technology will be ready to go.

That means for the first part of the season, VARs will still be in charge of making offside calls from Stockley Park.

The technology is expected to be introduced after one of the international breaks in September or October.

Earlier this year, former Prem referee Mark Halsey blasted the decision to have a different technology added after the season had started.

He said: “It’s ludicrous we are not bringing this in from day one next season.

“The Premier League is awash with money and it needs to be operational for every match.

“It’s got to be ready for the season kick-off. We can’t bring it in four, five or six weeks into the season as that will question the competition’s integrity.

“If it’s not ready, then wait until 2025-26.”

There have also been a couple of other significant changes to the Premier League rule book for next season.

Changes to the Premier League for 2024/25

NOTHING stays the same forever.

And that includes the Premier League, which is making a number of tweaks this season.

Team news will now be released 75 MINUTES before kick-off, 15 minutes earlier than had been the case before.

Things could get crowded on the touchline, with the number of substitutes permitted to warm-up boosted from three players per team to FIVE.

There’s also a change to how added time is calculated when a team scores a goal, an update to the ‘multiball’ system and the introduction of semi-automated offsides – but not straight away.

Go here to read about all the changes to the Premier League for 2024/25.