August 14 – Sports data and technology company Genius Sports has been appointed as the Premier League’s Semi-Automated Officiating supplier as part of an agreement aimed at improving offside decision making.
The Premier League had no shortage of issues with VAR last season, particularly in the speed and accuracy of assessing offside calls. So great was the discomfort with VAR that a vote went before the Premier League board on whether to continue with it. It decided to keep VAR but demanded improvements.
Genius’s system has been built with minimising breaks in the game and delivering new levels of accuracy.
England’s top flight rejected the chance to implement Semi Automated Offside Technology (SAOT) at the start of last season, despite its success in the 2022 World Cup.
Genius’s solution is a new-look SAOT powered by GeniusIQ, Genius Sports’ next-generation AI and data platform.
Genius Sports computer vision system will be installed in every Premier League stadium, combining for a level of data that Genius says “significantly exceeds any other officiating system in world sport”, enabling a much higher level of precision in every offside decision.
The system is projected to go live during the 2024/25 Premier League season, with an exact date still to be finalised.
Tony Scholes, Premier League Chief Football Officer, said: “The introduction of semi-automated offside is an important move to maintain the flow of the game in the Premier League. We are confident that by using the newest and most accurate technology available we will see the time taken for offside decisions reduced significantly alongside a consistent application of the offside lines.
“The experience for all participants including supporters will also be enhanced through quicker communication and clearer imagery around offside decisions.”
The Premier League returns on Friday as Manchester United take on Fulham at Old Trafford.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1726803527labto1726803527ofdlr1726803527owedi1726803527sni@g1726803527niwe.1726803527yrrah1726803527