The English Premier League is giving offside calls a (semi) automated upgrade.
The new system revamps arguably the most controversial rule in sports.
First introduced back in 1863, the offside law prevents sneaky footballers from camping by the goal.
In its current iteration, the rule only applies to attackers in their enemys half.
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Well, allow me to clarify.
Players can be offside when any part of their body is beyond the defenders.
Or maybe when theres daylight between them.
But sometimes, only when the attacker is actively involved in play.
Good, me neither.
Officials have attempted to refine the rule, but offside calls still constantly enrage both footballers and fans.
The latest target of their ire is thevideo-assistant referee(VAR).
Designed to reviewdecisionsmade on the pitch, the system added a second offside check.
Unfortunately, it also added new problems.
Not only did the decisions remain controversial, they were now also excruciatingly slow.
The Premier League was sent back to the drawing board.
It returned today with a new solution:semi-automated offside technology (SAOT).
Automated offsides
SAOT applies optical tracking to footballers.
When a player is offside, thesoftwareautomatically draws lines on the footage to illustrate their position.
Referees then check the film before making a decision.
By combining automation with human oversight, the system could enhance both accuracy and speed.
At least, thats the plan.
The company will install computer vision cameras in every Premier League stadium.
Officials can then make a precise call.
He claims SAOT will enhance the experience for all participants including supporters.
Its a bold promise, but one that even perfect tech would struggle to fulfil.
Because sometimes the only right decision is the one that benefits our team.
Story byThomas Macaulay
Thomas is the managing editor of TNW.
He leads our coverage of European tech and oversees our talented team of writers.
Away from work, he e(show all)Thomas is the managing editor of TNW.
He leads our coverage of European tech and oversees our talented team of writers.
Away from work, he enjoys playing chess (badly) and the guitar (even worse).
