What is semi-automatic offside technology?

FIFA has announced that semi-automatic offside technology will be used at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar starting from November 21, the tool will assist VAR referees and on-field officials to helping them make faster, more accurate offside decisions that are easier to replicate on the biggest stage.

After successfully using VAR technology at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced in Vision 2020-23 that FIFA will strive to exploit the full potential of technology in football and improve the quality of football. even higher VAR. Over the next three years, FIFA truly continued to lead the way in football technology. By working with adidas and various partners, especially with the Creative Excellence Working Group and technology providers.

What is semi-automatic offside technology?

Semi-automatic offside technology uses 12 specialized tracking cameras mounted underneath the stadium roof to track the ball and 29 data points of each player. Every 50 times per second, calculate their exact position on the field. Includes 29 data points collected on all relevant limbs and limbs to determine if the player is offside or not?

Al Rihla, adidas' official match ball for Qatar 2022, will provide a further key element to rigorously detect offside incidents, an inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor ) will be placed inside the ball. This sensor is located in the center of the ball, sending ball data to the video operations room 500 times per second, allowing precise detection of the launch point.

By combining limb movement tracking and ball tracking data, and applying artificial intelligence, the new offside detection technology provides automatic offside warnings to VAR officials inside the room. administer VAR whenever an offensive dribble is received by a player in an offside position.

Before notifying the on-field referee, VAR officials confirm the offside decision by manually checking the automatically selected kick-off point and the automatically generated offside line, based on the calculated position on the field. players' hands and feet. This process takes place within seconds and means offside decisions can be made quicker and more accurately.

Once the decision is confirmed by the VAR officials and the on-field referee, the identical positional data points used to make the offside decision are then created into a 3D animation detailing the completion. Perfect position of players' arms and legs on the field.

This 3D animation will always show the best possible angle for an offside situation, will then be projected onto giant screens in the stadium and will also be made available to live broadcast partners. FIFA's newsletter to deliver to all audiences as clearly as possible.

The workflow of semi-automatic offside technology and connected ball technology has been successfully tested at multiple test events and at FIFA tournaments, including Arab Cup 2021 and Club matches. World Cup 2021.

David Pac

Update 16 October 2023