The Premier League is facing criticism over the delays in making VAR decisions. To address this issue, the league has decided to introduce semi-automated offside technology from next season. This new system is expected to reduce the time taken for offside checks by about 30 seconds on average.
During a recent shareholders’ meeting, all top-flight clubs unanimously agreed to implement this technology. The system will use optical player tracking to quickly and consistently place the virtual offside line. This will not only speed up the decision-making process but also improve the overall viewing experience for fans, both in the stadium and on broadcasts.
Semi-automated offside technology has been successfully used in other competitions such as the FIFA World Cup, Champions League, and Serie A. While the technology will assist in determining offside positions, referees will still need to make subjective calls, such as whether a player is interfering with play.
The Premier League has not yet revealed the specific technology partner it will be working with, nor have any contracts been finalized. The plan is to implement this new system after one of the international breaks in September, October, or November. This move is aimed at enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of VAR decisions in the Premier League.
