This weekend’s FA Cup fifth round will see the implementation of semi-automated offside technology (SOAT) for the first time in English football.
The technology is the latest adaptation to VAR with the hopes it will improve the speed at which decisions are made.
The technology has already been seen at the men’s and women’s World Cups in 2022 and 2023, while it has also been in use in the Champions League since the start of the 2022/23 season.
In April, the Premier League approved the use of SOAT for the 2024/25 season and fans will now be able to see it in action for the first time this weekend.
Here’s everything you need to know.
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What is semi-automated offside technology and how does it work?
Under the current system, VAR officials are required to manually draw two lines on the relevant attacker and defender as well as determine the ‘kick point’ from which an offside call can then be made.
However, SOAT automates that process and provides VAR officials with the two lines as well as the ‘kick point’.
From there, the decision can be reviewed by the VAR officials before relaying an official decision to the on-pitch referee as well as those in the stadium and watching at home.
With VAR officials not having to manually draw the lines, it is hoped that the time taken for an offside check will reduce by an average of around 30 seconds.
During the World Cup, FIFA placed chips inside balls to help establish the ‘kick point’, but the English football will instead rely on cameras in grounds to track the ball’s movements at a high frame rate.
What FA Cup games will use the technology?
The new offside technology will be used for the first time on Friday when Aston Villa welcome Championship side Cardiff City to Villa Park.
In total, SOAT will be used in seven of the eight last-16 ties, with the all-Championship clash between Preston North End and Burnley the only exception.
FA Cup fifth round fixtures
Aston Villa v Cardiff City
Crystal Palace v Millwall
Preston North End v Burnley
Bournemouth v Wolves
Man City v Plymouth Argyle
Newcastle v Brighton
Man Utd v Fulham
Nottingham Forest v Ipswich
Why is semi-automated offside technology not being used in the Premier League yet?
Originally, the Premier League had hoped to introduce SOAT after one of last autumn’s international breaks but that did not materialise.
Speaking earlier in February, however, Premier League chief football officer Tony Scholes insisted the technology was still on course to be introduced in the league this season.
‘The system that we’ve adopted, we believe it to be the best system,’ he said.
‘We believe it to be the most accurate and the most future-proof system as well. I have to confess, given the difficulties that we had over the first few months of the season, I had severe doubts about this but the progress made over the last four to six weeks has been significant.’
Scholes continued: ‘The operation of semi-automated offside technology does not change the integrity of the offside law and doesn’t change the integrity of decision-making.
‘We have got 100 per cent accuracy (on offside after VAR checks) this season, so it won’t improve the accuracy. What it does is make the process more efficient.’
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