Introducing Semi-Automated Offside Technology: Could This Be the Solution to Fixing VAR in English Football?

Semi-automated offside technology will be introduced for the first time in English football during seven out of the eight FA Cup fifth-round matches, as announced on Thursday. This technology will be utilized in all matches held at Premier League stadiums, with the exception of the Preston vs Burnley clash, which is an all-Championship game. A statement released on Thursday has confirmed that the Premier League plans to implement this technology in its own matches later in the season. The introduction of SAOT is expected to significantly decrease the time taken for offside checks, reducing it by an average of 31 seconds.

It has worked with technology provider Genius Sports on the new offside system.

Speaking last week, Premier League chief football officer Tony Scholes said there had been "significant progress" on the technology in recent weeks.

"The system that we've adopted, we believe it to be the best system," he said.

"We believe it to be the most accurate and the most future-proof system as well."

European football's governing body UEFA introduced the technology in the Champions League at the start of the 2022/2023 campaign.

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FA Cup fifth-round ties will be held around the weekend of March 1 and 2.

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(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)