The Premier League is set to embrace Semi-Automated Offside Technology (SOAT) starting next season, a decision unanimously agreed upon by clubs. However, the system won’t kick off with the campaign’s start, as organizers anticipate its readiness “after one of the Autumn international breaks” between September and November. This technology is already a fixture in the UEFA Champions League.
Premier League clubs have unanimously agreed to the introduction of Semi-Automated Offside Technology from next season
It will provide quicker placement of the virtual offside line and high-quality graphics to ensure an enhanced broadcast and stadium experience
Advertisement— Premier League (@premierleague) April 11, 2024
Clubs across the Premier League have given the green light for the implementation of Semi-Automated Offside Technology (SOAT) next season, mirroring its usage in competitions like the UEFA Champions League and Serie A. The rollout of this system is expected to occur following one of the international breaks scheduled for September, October, or November.
SOAT has seen widespread success in various high-profile tournaments, including the men’s and women’s World Cups, with swift and accurate outcomes being the norm. It’s primarily used in determining critical match incidents such as goals, red card incidents, or penalties, while assistant referees will retain their role in flagging offside situations. The specific SOAT system the Premier League will adopt remains undisclosed, with variations ranging from ball-embedded chips to multiple stadium cameras.
Notably, stadiums equipped with large screens will display visualizations of these decisions to spectators. According to a Premier League statement, “The new system will be used for the first time in the Premier League next season, and it is anticipated the technology will be ready to be introduced after one of the Autumn international breaks.” The introduction of SOAT marks a significant technological advancement since the inception of VAR at the beginning of the 2019-20 season.
Calls for its adoption intensified, particularly after a notable incident involving Liverpool‘s Luiz Diaz, whose goal was wrongly disallowed for offside against Tottenham, attributed to “significant human error” acknowledged by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) in September.
