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The Premier League has provided a fresh update on their plans to introduce semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) this season.

The Premier League clubs approved the introduction of the technology this season in April last year.



The proposed date was after one of this autumn’s international windows.

“The new system will be used for the first time in the Premier League next season, and it is anticipated the technology will be ready to be introduced after one of the autumn international breaks,” the Premier League said in a statement announcing the news in April.

“The technology will provide quicker and consistent placement of the virtual offside line, based on optical player tracking, and will produce high-quality broadcast graphics to ensure an enhanced in-stadium and broadcast experience for supporters.”

However, after the league’s inability to meet their proposed date, it was reported that the technology could be rolled out around winter.

“During a meeting held in central London in September, Premier League bosses moved the launch date in a bid to ‘manage expectations’ on the launch date among clubs, especially as the testing on the system is ongoing,” a report communicating the new proposed date read.

With the proposed winter date nearing an end, Premier League chief Tony Scholes has now provided an update on their plans to roll out the technology this season.

What is the latest update on the semi-automated offside technology?

While addressing a number of issues, including the performance of VAR this season, Premier League chief football officer Tony Scholes disclosed that semi-automated offsides could be introduced before the end of this season.

In a briefing with reporters, Scholes claimed that VAR was improving season by season, backing up his claim with statistics that showed there had only been 13 VAR errors at this stage compared with 20 last season and added that VAR interventions were causing an average delay of 40 seconds per match, down from 66.

“We are making significant progress (on offsides),” Scholes said about the proposed semi-automated offside technology.

“I’m hopeful that at some point this season, we will be able to introduce semi-automated technology.

“But I repeat the point I’ve made a number of times.

We believe we’re going to be adopting the best system and the most accurate system without the need for the chip in the ball.”

How does semi-automated offside technology work?

Semi-automated offside is already used in the Champions League and Serie A.

While not exactly the same system, it was also used at the World Cup in Qatar in 2022, with a chip embedded inside the matchday ball.

It was also used in the 2024 European Championship in Germany.

The system typically requires 12 cameras inside a stadium which track the ball and 29 data points on each player.

Not all systems require a chip in the ball.

3D automated images will be shown on giant screens at stadiums.

The Premier League currently has VAR officials check offsides using Hawk-Eye, but the system has faced heavy criticism for perceived errors and the time taken to reach a decision?

It also leaves fans in the stadium in the dark with no replays.

The most high-profile error came when Luis Diaz was wrongly denied a goal for Liverpool at Tottenham last season.

When implemented, the current system used by VAR will be used as backup when semi-automated technology is not working, for instance, when multiple bodies are obscuring the cameras.

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