FIFA to test semi-automatic offside technology at the Arab Cup

FIFA is set to announce that it will test technology which automatically detects when players are offside at the Arab Cup in Qatar in what is being seen as a dry run for the 2022 World Cup. 

An artificial intelligence system will be in place at six stadiums in the 16-team tournament. It works by sending the video assistant referee (VAR) an instant message when a player is offside and the official will then make a decision on whether they were interfering with play or not. Several technology companies are providing systems for the live test at the FIFA Arab Cup in Qatar and it comes after non-live trials over the past year in stadiums across Europe, including Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium, Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena and Seville’s Estadio La Cartuja. The system is described as semi-automated, in that the message is sent to the VAR to inform their decision, rather than to the referee directly. If the test in Qatar goes smoothly then it is expected to be formally approved at IFAB’s annual meeting in March for use at the World Cup next November.

Automated offside systems use camera and computer technology to track players’ movements as well as the ball, and insiders say it should be more accurate than the VAR offsides. FIFA has been told by Hawk-Eye that the company believes it has developed a system that is ready to go. One issue for football’s lawmakers is that highly accurate offside technology will again raise the issue of attackers being penalised even if they are only a tiny fraction ahead of the defender. For that reason, FIFA’s head of global football development, Arsene Wenger, has proposed changing the offside law so that there must be clear daylight between the attacker and defender for an offence to be committed. The idea is to shift the law to favour attackers more. IFAB officials have been updated on the results of early trials of the “daylight” option but the body is expected to ask for a much more detailed trial process before considering any change to the law.

Source: Times