The Premier League will finally introduce semi-automated offside technology for the highest flight competition on April 12.
The decision was proposed after a long-term invigorating test within the league and after its initial use in the UK football match in the fifth round of the FA Cup in February.
The design of semi-automated technology simplifies the decision-making process of tight offside calls as it automates key aspects of the adjudication, thereby assisting the video assistant referee (VAR) in the process.
According to the Premier League, it “improves the speed, efficiency and consistency of offside decisions”.
The system was originally launched at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and has since been used in Serie A, La Liga and Champions League.
Manchester City’s home fixture against Crystal Palace will be the first Premier League game to feature this technology.
The system aims to reduce human subjectivity by replacing certain hosting decisions with automation technology.
For now, when scoring in increasingly offside situations, VAR officials have to evaluate three key factors: the exact moment of the ball at that time, the positioning and angle of the defender’s body, and the same details for the offensive player.
Break: The Premier League will launch semi-automated offside technology on Saturday, April 12. pic.twitter.com/lxgrm0zkuo
– Sky Sports News (@skysportsnews) April 1, 2025
With the new system, all three decisions will be automated.
Specialized cameras have been installed under the roof of all 20 Premier League stadiums to track a variety of factors that are crucial to offside rulings.
These cameras monitor the ball’s movement on each player and capture 10,000 surface “grid data points” to accurately determine whether the offensive player has exceeded the last defender of the ball.
Artificial intelligence monitors the entire process, analyzing the ball and player movement to determine offside positions.
The VAR officials then review the system’s output to confirm accuracy before transferring the decision to the field referee, who informs the player.
Additionally, AI-generated 3D animation replays will be displayed on TV broadcasts and stadium screens to provide a clear visual representation of fan decisions.
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