Despite successful trials at the World Cup, the Premier League has consistently postponed the implementation of semi-automated offside technology.
This decision has led to numerous delays and several instances of human error, such as the infamous Brentford offside incident against Arsenal, where they neglected to check the offside player, and the Luis Diaz “offside” situation against Spurs. Despite these shortcomings, the Premier League continues to rely on its flawed and error-prone system.
Mark Bullingham, the CEO of the Football Association (FA), believes it’s high time for the league to embrace semi-automated technology to assist with offside decisions. He emphasizes the importance of getting decisions right and suggests that technology can speed up the decision-making process.
Bullingham raises the common frustration among fans and players regarding the lengthy pauses during matches as offside decisions are reviewed.
He sees the potential in technological innovations, specifically semi-autonomous offside technology, which could eventually transition to a fully autonomous system. This would allow for highly accurate decisions to be made rapidly, minimizing disruptions in the flow of the game.
The Premier League has previously discussed the introduction of semi-automated offside technology, but these discussions have consistently been met with delays.
One point of contention has been the lack of agreement regarding which parts of the body should be considered for offside decisions. Additionally, complaints have arisen about the time it takes for VAR images to reach broadcasters, contributing to the delays.
While there are legitimate concerns about the speed at which VAR graphics can be shown on television, these concerns might be perceived as mere excuses.
The reluctance to adopt major changes is a prevailing sentiment within the league. This aversion to change could be the primary reason for the ongoing delay in implementing semi-automated offside technology.
The Premier League’s hesitance to adopt semi-automated offside technology, despite successful trials and widespread frustrations with the current system, has raised questions about the league’s willingness to embrace technological advancements.
The introduction of faster, more accurate technology remains a topic of discussion, but implementation has been consistently delayed, raising suspicions of resistance to major changes within the league.
