The Premier League has announced plans to implement semi-automated offside technology in the upcoming season. This new system, a first for the Premier League, is expected to be introduced after one of the autumn international breaks, potentially as early as September. The technology is designed to offer more efficient and consistent placement of the virtual offside line by utilizing optical player tracking.

Its implementation aims to result in superior broadcast graphics, providing an enhanced experience for both in-stadium and broadcast viewers. There is an anticipation that the technology will reduce VAR checks for offside offences by an average of 31 seconds. Moreover, UEFA’s chief refereeing officer, Roberto Rosetti, expressed the organization’s commitment to leveraging the best available technology to improve the sport and referee support.

He highlighted the importance of utilizing new technological solutions and explained that semi-automated offside will help save time and enhance the accuracy of line position identification in two-dimensional images. The announcement comes in the wake of several contentious decisions in the Premier League involving VAR and offside calls, including both marginal and glaring errors. The hope is that the introduction of semi-automated offside technology will address these issues and contribute to an overall improvement in refereeing.