The Premier League will be implementing semi-automated offside technology this weekend, starting on Saturday 12 April. This new technology aims to enhance the speed, efficiency, and consistency of the offside decision-making process by providing more efficient placement of the virtual offside line based on optical player tracking.
Developed in collaboration with PGMOL and Genius Sports, the semi-automated offside technology system will be used for live competition for the first time. The system uses up to 30 cameras mounted around Premier League stadiums to track the exact movement of the ball and players, analyzing up to 10,000 surface data points per player.
The technology will suggest a kick point and automatically create offside lines, saving time in determining whether a player is onside or offside. While the system is semi-automated, human input is still required to confirm decisions and ensure accuracy.
The implementation of semi-automated offside technology is not expected to increase the number of offside calls but will improve the overall process and reduce delays. Decision visuals, featuring 3D virtual replays of relevant players, will be distributed to fans in the stadium and media outlets to provide clarity on offside decisions.
The new technology will maintain the existing thicker lines to prevent more ‘toenail’ offsides and preserve competition integrity. While most offside decisions are expected to be quicker with the new system, there may still be longer checks in certain scenarios, such as when multiple players block the view of the ball.
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