The Premier League has announced that semi-automated offside technology will be introduced for the 2024/25 season.
The announcement sees the Premier League become the third major top division to adopt the technology, along with Serie A, who have used the technology for the past 18 months, and La liga, who will be introducing SAOT from the start of next season.
Officials will use the same cameras and software that UEFA uses in the men’s Champions League. This is different from the technology which FIFA used during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where the match ball had a chip inside that provided an array of data to help determine the decision.
For the upcoming EURO 2024 Finals in Germany this summer, UEFA will introduce the chipped ball technology to better improve VAR decisions.
The Premier League released this statement after the announcement:
“At a Premier League Shareholders’ meeting today, clubs unanimously agreed to the introduction of Semi-Automated Offside Technology.
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 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.”
From August, the offside rules that are currently implemented through VAR will still be in use until after first international break, before SAOT is introduced following the resumption of the Premier League.
