Semi-automated offside technology to be introduced by Premier League in 2024-25 - but it won't be ready until after the season starts

Top-flight clubs have voted unanimously in favour of the proposal, with the new system set to be launched at some point during the first half of next season. Semi-automated offside technology has previously been used at the men and women’s World Cup, as well as in the Champions League.

The Premier League said in an official statement: “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.”

The system, which uses artificial intelligence in order to make decisions, removes the need for lines to be drawn on the screen during VAR reviews. Instead, a virtual line is drawn using key skeleton points – head, toes, upper arms and knees – on multiple players.

Former match official Pierluigi Collina, who is now chairman of FIFA’s referee committee, said of the new technology in 2022: “We expect that semi-automated offside technology can take us a step further. Sometimes, the process to check a possible offside takes too long, especially when the offside incident is very tight. This is where semi-automated offside technology comes in - to offer faster and more accurate decisions.”

Ball-tracking tools can identify the point of contact, making offside calls instantaneous and more reliable. There will, however, be a need for those in the VAR booth to confirm all decisions flagged by the new semi-automated system before any message is passed over to the on-field officials.