FIFA bringing in new semi-automated offsides technology to make decisions in just three seconds
FIFA is working on the revolutionary technology that could instantly detect offsides at the Qatar World Cup. It is undergoing a trial run at the Club World Cup, and FIFA hopes that it will remove the protracted delays that considerably slow down games.
The technology features automated line-drawing and virtual reality replays. The system was put into use last week in a match between Al-Jazira and AS Pirae in the first-round of the Club World Cup. A goal by Alameri Zayed was ruled out during the match. It has worked flawlessly so far.
Artificial Intelligence software tracks every player and shows animated illustrations on big screens in stadiums explaining clearly why the goals are disallowed.
Football’s governing body hope the result and acceptance of the new system is similar to the way goal-line technology is used. It will eventually replace the controversial VAR offside lines by providing match officials with an instant message to their watch when a player is in an offside position.
For those who find it objectionable to use “robot referees”, the match officials will still have the final say according to Pierluigi Collina, chairman of FIFA’s referees’ committee.
Collina said: “I know that for headlines ‘robot offside’ or something similar is very easy. But this is not the case. You have seen that the technology is simply a tool used by a human being.
“There is not any outcome bypassing the match officials on the field of play, off the field of play. They are involved in the decision-making process and they are responsible for the final decision taken.
“It is still a tool. It is a tool available to increase accuracy and improve the time, something quicker.
“The last part, the animation, refers more to reliability. People understand from the image what happens and trust much more in what happened, the decision. If you do not understand because you do not see clearly what happened, then you start doubting the decision itself.”
The technology currently in place tracks 18 points on the body. The plan is to upgrade it to tracking 29 points which will both improve the accuracy and the speed of offside decisions. The decision-making time is expected to be cut to around three seconds.
