A 3D animation such as this one will be played on television and on big screens in stadiums

Premier League Set to Introduce Semi-Automated Offside Technology

A New Era for Offside Decisions in the Premier League

The Premier League is about to take a major step forward in officiating, with the introduction of semi-automated offside technology (SAOT). Starting from Saturday, 12 April, the system will be used for the first time in a Premier League match, as Manchester City hosts Crystal Palace in the early kick-off.

The decision to implement semi-automated offside technology follows months of non-live testing in the Premier League and its successful debut in English football during the FA Cup fifth round back in February. The league believes the new system will enhance the speed, efficiency, and consistency of offside decision-making, reducing the controversy that has surrounded VAR decisions in recent seasons.

While offside calls have always been one of the most debated aspects of football, the introduction of SAOT aims to minimize human error, streamline the decision-making process, and provide greater transparency for fans, players, and managers alike.

How Semi-Automated Offside Technology Works

Premier League confirms semi-automated offside technology to be introduced this season –

Bringing Cutting-Edge AI to Officiating

Premier League to use semi-automated offside technology this season –

At its core, semi-automated offside technology is designed to remove some of the human subjectivity involved in offside decisions. Rather than relying on VAR officials manually determining key elements, the system uses artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced tracking technology to make the process faster and more precise.

Currently, when a borderline offside situation occurs, VAR officials must determine three key factors:

The exact moment the ball was played.
The position and angle of the last defender’s body at that moment.
The position and angle of the attacking player’s body in relation to the last defender.

With semi-automated offside technology, these elements are now automatically calculated by the system, significantly reducing delays and potential inconsistencies.

How the System Tracks Players and the Ball

Semi-automated offside will finally be used in the Premier League THIS season – Liverpool FC

To make this possible, bespoke tracking cameras have been installed beneath the roof of all 20 Premier League stadiums. These cameras will track:
✅ The movement of the ball at all times.
✅ 10,000 surface mesh data points on each player’s body, capturing their exact position in real-time.

This means that the system can instantly determine whether an attacking player is beyond the last defender at the exact moment the ball is played. AI technology then processes this data and automatically generates an offside decision.

What Does This Mean for VAR?

A Faster and More Reliable Process

One of the biggest criticisms of VAR offside calls has been the length of time it takes to reach a decision. Fans have grown frustrated with delayed celebrations, players have had goals disallowed minutes after scoring, and debates over marginal offside calls have continued to dominate discussions.

With semi-automated offside technology, that process is significantly quicker. Instead of VAR officials manually drawing offside lines and debating over frame-by-frame analysis, the system provides an instant decision, which is then verified by the VAR team.

Here’s how the process will now work:

AI processes the ball and player positions automatically.
The VAR team quickly verifies the data to ensure accuracy.
The on-field referee is informed of the decision.
A 3D animation of the offside call is displayed on stadium big screens and TV broadcasts.

This 3D visualization is a key feature, as it will allow fans inside the stadium and viewers at home to clearly see why a decision was made, reducing confusion and frustration.

Premier League Follows the Lead of Other Major Competitions

Premier League to use semi-automated offside technology this season –

While this technology is new to the Premier League, it has already been used successfully in elite football competitions around the world.

Where Has Semi-Automated Offside Technology Been Used Before?

Premier League is unlikely to introduce semi-automated offside technology until next year. They are not yet confident the technology is fully reliable and won’t use it live until it is.

2022 FIFA World Cup (Qatar) – SAOT made its debut on the world’s biggest stage, helping officials make faster and more accurate decisions.
UEFA Champions League – The system has been implemented in Europe’s top club competition, ensuring consistent offside rulings.
Serie A (Italy) & La Liga (Spain) – Both leagues have already adopted semi-automated offside technology, with positive results.

The Premier League is now following suit, aiming to improve accuracy and fairness in offside calls.

Why the Change? Addressing Controversial Offside Decisions

VAR and the Offside Debate

Since VAR was introduced to the Premier League in 2019, offside decisions have been a constant source of frustration. Fans and pundits have frequently complained about:

Extremely tight offside calls being decided by millimeters.
Delays of up to 3-4 minutes before a decision is made.
Lack of clarity on how the offside ruling was reached.

There have been several high-profile incidents where VAR’s decision-making has come under scrutiny. From controversial disallowed goals to debates over when the ball was actually played, the current system has often left players, managers, and fans scratching their heads.

How Semi-Automated Offside Technology Solves These Issues

The introduction of SAOT directly addresses these concerns by:
✅ Eliminating the need for manually drawn offside lines.
✅ Ensuring all decisions are based on precise AI-tracked data.
✅ Reducing the time taken to make a decision.
✅ Providing clear 3D visualizations for greater transparency.

Ultimately, the goal is to make offside rulings as fair and objective as possible, while also ensuring that the flow of the game is not disrupted by lengthy VAR checks.

What to Expect in the First Premier League Match with SAOT

The first Premier League match to feature semi-automated offside technology will be:
📅 Saturday, 12 April
🏟 Etihad Stadium
⚽ Manchester City vs. Crystal Palace (12:30 BST kickoff)

All eyes will be on how the system performs in a high-stakes Premier League environment. Will it bring the promised speed and accuracy? Will fans and players accept the technology more readily than traditional VAR offside calls?

Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: offside decisions in the Premier League are about to change forever.

Final Thoughts: A Step in the Right Direction?

The introduction of semi-automated offside technology is arguably the biggest advancement in Premier League officiating since the launch of VAR.

While some purists may argue that officiating decisions should always be made by humans, the reality is that technology is now an essential part of modern football.

If SAOT can deliver on its promise of faster, fairer, and more transparent offside decisions, it could dramatically improve the viewing experience for players and fans alike.

But, as with any new technology in football, the true test will be how it performs in real-time Premier League matches.

Will this system finally put an end to offside controversies? Or will it simply create a new set of debates?

One thing is for sure—the Premier League will never be the same again.