Refereeing: semi-automated offside detection to be tested during the Arab Cup (30/11-18/12/2021)

Providing a dedicated video operator, in near real-time, with the offside line at the moment the ball is touched so that the operator can immediately show the image to the VAR assistant, is how the semi-automated offside detection technology that will be tested during the FIFA Arab Cup starting in Qatar on Tuesday 30/11/2021, is summarised. The dedicated VAR assistant will be able to validate the information immediately.

"In an offside incident, the decision is made after having analysed not only the players' position but also, their involvement in the move. Technology - today or tomorrow - can draw a line but the assessment of an interference with play or with an opponent remains in the referee's hands," said Pierluigi Collina (ITA), chief refereeing officer at FIFA, on 29/11/2021.

"We will have a camera set-up installed under the roof of each stadium. The limb tracking data extracted from the video will be sent to the operations rooms and the calculated offside line and detected kick-point is provided to the replay operator in almost real-time," explained Johannes Holzmüller…