The Premier League are finally set to introduce semi-automated offsides next week, but they’ve made one bizarre decision that could serve to undermine the new system.
Following months of delays for non-live and live testing, the Premier League have finally confirmed that semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) will be introduced on Saturday, April 12th.
The system has already been trialled in FA Cup matches this season, but it will now be used in the league as well. Arsenal’s first match with the Premier League’s version of the technology will be the game against Brentford at the Emirates Stadium next Saturday.
In many ways, this is great news. The biggest improvement should be quicker offside reviews, with the Premier League reporting that the average expected reduction in decision time is approximately 30 seconds.
Though the Premier League insist that semi-automated offsides are not any more or less accurate than the old system, the reality is that they should be.
At the very least, we should get rid of examples like the Brentford goal against Arsenal in 2023, where VAR Lee Mason forgot to draw the lines. The new system draws the lines automatically, so that shouldn’t happen again.
The use of cameras that operate at 100 frames per second, twice the frame rate of typical broadcast cameras, will also help with accuracy.
Yet the PL appear to have scored one major own goal with SAOT already.
In their statement on how the system will work, the league write that “the final image in the virtual replay will be on an angle, off-centre”, as shown in the example below.
This is a change from how every other competition does it, where they show a side-on angle, in line with the offside line.
The issue the Premier League’s angle creates is clearly visible above. Though the Tottenham Hotspur player’s foot is in contact with the offside line, it’s hard to see that visually using the off-centre angle.
This won’t affect the accuracy of the decision, but it will create uncertainty among any supporters who have a worse understanding of perspective, undermining trust in the new system.
It’s a needless change that adds no benefit, but will likely cause a lot of confusion among fans.
When your system is introduced five months late (the Premier League initially committed to implementing SAOT by November 2024), you’d expect it to be better than everyone else’s, not worse.
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