Semi-automatic offside detection comes to the Bundesliga

In the future, offside decisions in the Bundesliga are to be accelerated by additional technology. The semi-automated offside detection system, which is known from international leagues and competitions such as the last European Football Championship, will also be used in the Bundesliga from the coming season. This was confirmed by DFB head referee Knut Kircher to the sports magazine Kicker. Further details on the introduction are still pending.

Kircher is also open to stadium announcements on referee decisions and explanatory moving images on the video boards in the stadium. Before this can become a serious issue, however, the DFB first wants to evaluate the findings from the introduction of the new offside technology. "But the procedure must also be guaranteed so that it is displayed directly for the decision and not three minutes later," Kircher told Kicker.

Referees make the final decision

Semi-automated offside detection combines data from sensors inside the ball and camera images that can track players precisely. The technology can precisely record the time of contact with the ball and simultaneously draw position lines on the relevant body parts of the players involved.

This image material is available to the team of video assistant referees (VAR) and can therefore speed up tricky offside decisions in soccer. However, the images can still be subject to interpretation –. For example, referees have to decide whether a player is passively offside or actively interfering, for example by obstructing the goalkeeper. FIFA therefore refers to this as semi-automated offside technology (SAOT).

FIFA used the semi-automated offside detection system for the first time at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Since then, the technology has been used in several competitions. It has also already arrived in league play. In the English Premier League, for example, offside detection is already being used this season.

(dahe)