FIFA may change the rules of football due to a semi-automatic offside system

New tech is ‘too accurate’ and slows down the game

The last World Cup in Qatar featured a semi-automatic offside detection (SAOT) system, among other innovations.

According to the British and Italian media, according to the latest figures from FIFA, obtained during the analysis of the work of SAOT, it turned out that this system was “too accurate”. And now the governing body of world football is seriously thinking about amending the definition of an offside position specified in the official Laws of the Game of Football.

Semi-automatic offside technology was originally intended to be used from the first match of the 22 World Cup. But UEFA got ahead of FIFA by using SAOT in the Super Cup match between Real Madrid and Eintracht Frankfurt on August 10, 2022 at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki. At the same time, testing of this system, which uses 10 cameras to track 29 points on the body of each player on the field, began even earlier in other games. MK already wrote about her work on January 6, 2023.

Now it turns out that too high accuracy of the system limits the actions of teams in the attack. It is assumed that the new interpretation will mean that if any part of the body with which a player can score a goal is on the same level as the defender of the opposing team, then this player is not offside.

However, before any changes to the rules are made, it is necessary to conduct a detailed discussion of this issue in the relevant committees and commissions of FIFA and the International Football Association Board (IFAB).

The well-known Italian sports journalist Gianluca Di Marzio said in his publications that matches of the Italian Under-18 Championship will be used to check the innovations in the rules and data processing.

“Technology is increasingly taking over in sports on a global level. In terms of football, the evolution took place around 2016 when VAR was introduced with great success.

Then, during the World Cup in Qatar, FIFA introduced another new element – SAOT. So named because it reduces the work of assistant referees and requires more special sensors on the field. At the same time, the new system is able to detect any offside position.

However, now FIFA itself is thinking about a new modification that would go against the canons of semi-automatic offside. In fact, SAOT has such a high degree of accuracy that it limits the attacking play of the teams. Therefore, it was decided to consider a new interpretation “if any part of the body with which a player can score a goal is on the same level as the defender of the opposing team, then this player is not offside.”

Another reason for this hypothetical change could be the fact that players are often punished for a part of the body that does not even benefit them in attacking actions, ”Di Marzio wrote in one of his last articles.

As for FIFA, its representatives have not yet made any official statements regarding a possible change in the rules or testing their new provisions in any games and tournaments.