T he Premier League is set to transform officiating with the introduction of a cutting-edge semi-automatic offside technology (SAOT) aimed at revolutionizing match decisions and reducing delays. Developed by technology firm Genius Sports, this new system promises to deliver unparalleled precision and efficiency in VAR (Video Assistant Referee) operations.
Genius Sports, which secured the contract after a competitive bidding process, will deploy 28 computer vision cameras at each Premier League stadium. These cameras will provide real-time data to enhance decision-making accuracy and significantly reduce the time taken for VAR reviews. The company asserts that the system can deliver offside verdicts within seconds, potentially reducing the average game length, which last season extended to nearly 102 minutes due to VAR delays.
Premier League matches were frequently marred by protracted VAR checks during the past season. Notably, a West Ham goal against Aston Villa in March was disallowed after a delay of 5 minutes and 37 seconds. On average, VAR referrals took 64 seconds, contributing to longer match durations. The Premier League’s chief football officer, Tony Scholes, acknowledged these issues and advocated for the adoption of SAOT, a recommendation that received unanimous support from club executives in April. Although Wolves proposed scrapping VAR altogether in June, this motion did not gain traction.
The new system, which follows previous implementations by UEFA and FIFA, will employ SAOT to capture and analyze 10,000 surface data points per player and ball. This advanced technology will enable the creation of detailed “offside walls” and 3D player graphics, which are also expected to be available for television viewers. Preliminary tests at Premier League and Champions League matches demonstrated the system’s ability to deliver decisions swiftly, with an anticipated average wait time of approximately 30 seconds.
While the detailed player graphics might eventually be displayed in stadiums to enhance the fan experience, this feature is still under review. The Premier League aims to have the SAOT fully operational following the international break next month, allowing time for the installation of cameras and other necessary equipment. During this transition, Hawk-Eye will continue to manage goalline technology for the Premier League, with its contract set to expire next summer.
The implementation of SAOT comes as a response to several high-profile VAR errors last season, including a missed offside call at Arsenal and incorrect application of manually drawn lines in a Brighton match. Although SAOT is expected to mitigate such errors, it will not address all issues, such as the miscommunication that led to Liverpool’s goal being wrongly disallowed at Tottenham last October.
With this new technology, the Premier League aims to provide the most sophisticated officiating system in football, enhancing both accuracy and the overall match experience for fans.
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