Revolutionary Optical Player Tracking Set to Revolutionize Offside Calls in Premier League for 2024-25 Season

The Premier League has announced plans to implement a new system of semi-automated technology for offside calls in the upcoming 2024-25 season. This change, which was unanimously approved by clubs, is expected to be introduced after one of the fall international breaks and will utilize optical player tracking to provide a quicker and more consistent placement of the virtual offside line.

The implementation of this technology is expected to save an average of 31 seconds per decision, as reported by The Athletic’s Matt Slater and Ed Mackey. The hope is that this new system will prevent situations where play has to be stopped after a possible offside, as referees have been instructed to keep their flags down until the technology confirms an infringement.

Similar technology was used during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and is seen as a natural extension of VAR technology. Cameras placed on the stadium roof track the ball and 29 different data points of each player to determine their exact position on the pitch. Assistant referees will receive audio signals through an earpiece to inform them of offside violations, allowing for immediate flag raising to stop play.

While this new system will be implemented primarily, the Premier League will still maintain its manual VAR system as a backup measure for situations where the technology may struggle to provide a clear read. The 2024-25 Premier League season is set to commence on August 17 and conclude on May 25, following the current season’s end on May 19.