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Offside technology changes. AI "invades" the Premier League

2025-04-12 13:55:17 / SPORT ALFA PRESS

Offside technology changes. AI "invades" the Premier League

Artificial intelligence will be part of the Premier League. It will help referees with offside positions, but it will also be reflected on screens for viewers

After months of testing, delays and mixed reviews, semi-automatic offside technology will be used for the first time in the Premier League this weekend. The system aims to speed up and increase the accuracy of offside decisions, following a series of controversies surrounding VAR in recent weeks.

SAOT uses around 30 cameras located in each stadium, which track the ball and over 10,000 body points of the 22 players on the pitch at a frequency of 100 frames per second. This makes it possible to automatically determine the moment of the pass and the exact position of each player. The decision is confirmed by the VAR officials and is then accompanied by a 3D animation to be displayed on screens and for the television audience.

The system is intended to avoid subjectivity in the timing of passes and hand lines. Unlike other VAR intervention cases, SAOT is only used for offside – which is a matter of fact rather than interpretation.

However, the technology is not infallible. During an FA Cup match between Bournemouth and Wolves, a record 8-minute interruption was recorded after the technology malfunctioned in a crowded area, forcing referees to revert to manual lines.

The Premier League claims that this season it has had 100% accuracy in offside decisions, while the average time for VAR decisions has decreased from 64 to 39 seconds per match.

Despite this, no time limit is foreseen for VAR interventions, as according to the PGMOL referees' body, some complex situations require time to analyze all the elements before a final decision is made.

SAOT does not solve the entire VAR problem, but for offside it is expected to bring more clarity, efficiency and fewer delays in decisions.

 

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