April 2 – Semi-automated offside technology (SAOT system aims to remove human error and the drawing of lines to establish players in an offside position.
Currently, when a player scores after a borderline offside situation, officials in the video assistant referee (VAR) room must decide on three key things – when the ball was kicked, where – and at what angle – the defender’s body was when the ball was kicked, and where – and at what angle – the attacker’s body was.
All three of those decisions will now be automatically taken by the technology.
Custom-made cameras, placed strategically around the stadium have been installed in all 20 Premier League clubs.
The cameras will track the exact movement of the ball as well as 10,000 surface mesh data points on the bodies of all 22 players, meaning it can be automatically determined whether or not an attacking player’s body was beyond the last defender at the exact time the ball was played.
A 3D animation of the decision produced by the artificial intelligence will then be played on television for viewers at home and on big screens in the stadium.
Manchester City and Crystal Palace will be the first time to play under this new system in the Premier League when they kick-off on April 12 at Etihad Stadium.
Contact the writer of this story, Nick Webster, at moc.l1743655282labto1743655282ofdlr1743655282owedi1743655282sni@o1743655282fni1743655282