AI Steps Onto the Pitch for Offside Decisions - Premier League Introduces New Offside Technology

The game between Man City and Palace on the 12th of April was an interesting one on its own, but it also marked the history of the Premier League and possibly of football in general. Palace started with an early lead of 0:2 and ended up losing 5:2 in the end.

However, the game will probably be remembered for the new technology introduced to it. The Premier League introduced AI to make decisions regarding offside positions for the first time.

Semi-Automated Offside Technology (SAOT)

Semi-automated offside technology is a tool used to automate the key elements of offside decision-making. Therefore, the decisions will still be made by the line referees, but with the assistance of SAOT, which is somewhat similar to the ways VAR is used now.

The technology was first tried during the FIFA Club World Cup, and it was officially rolled out during the 2022 FIFA World Cup. All of the teams of the Premier League agreed that it would be introduced to the League, as the general belief is that it would make the games fairer.

How does it Work?

Thirty cameras will be placed in the field, and they’ll use a much higher frame rate than the one used for regular broadcasting. This allows the cameras to follow the movement of the ball alongside up to 10,000 mesh data points per player. That way, the cameras can determine the exact position of the ball and each player involved in the attack.

Offsides are then automatically flagged by the software and handled by VAR operators. This information is then further conveyed to the on-field referee. The results will then be shown on the stadium screens and broadcasts.

How the Decision is Made

The new decision-making process will be similar to how it was done before. SAOT decisions will be shown as a 3D virtual replay, and the players will be identified by their names and the color of their kit. The 3D replay will contain a green line and a red area of the field, representing the offside area.

The part of the player’s body that has crossed the line and went offside will be marked in red in the replay. If the player has crossed in the offside with their whole body – it will be marked in red as well.

The Goal

The main goal of the new method is to catch more offsides and, therefore, make the games fairer. Offside can be a difficult call for the referee, and the cameras and automation will eliminate as many mistakes as possible.

SAOT will also have an impact on gambling, as did VAR. Some of the best crypto sports betting sites allow their players to make over/under bets on the number of offsides, and those numbers will be affected by a better referee system. It will take some time for everyone to adjust, but VAR shows that the change was for the better.

Offside Statistics

Average offsides per game vary by team. For instance, Arsenal had 2.25 per game, Nottingham Forest had 2.75, and Brighton only had 1.05. It’s also noticeable when a team uses a defensive strategy to catch the opponent offside. For instance, teams playing against Aston Villa were caught in an offside 81 times this season.

VAR has also shown results in overturning goals from offside positions. In the previous season, for instance, it was used 47 times to approve goals, and the goals were overturned 4 times after the VAR system was applied.

High-Tech Football Pitch

A few innovative technologies have been added to the average football experience in the last couple of years, and most agree they’ve improved the fairness and the overall game for the viewers. The most noticeable of these is VAR, which took some time to adjust to but is now mostly praised, but there are others.

For instance, we’ve seen the introduction of augmented reality technology, which allows the viewers to watch the game live but also see statistics and useful data written alongside the field and the players in real time. It hasn’t caught on yet, but it shows promise.

To Sum Up

The Premier League has introduced new technology to monitor offside. It was first used in a match between Man City and Crystal Palace. The technology was tried before, but this is its full roll-out. It consists of cameras covering the field and AI software determining if the player is in an offside position. Most compare it to the introduction of VAR.

When VAR was introduced, some claimed that it slowed down the momentum of a match, but in the long run, it proved to make the referee process fairer. The League believes the same will happen with the new offside technology.

15.04.2025