The Premier League has decided to delay the introduction of semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) until 2025, as testing of the system is still ongoing.
Earlier this year, clubs unanimously voted to implement the technology, which aims to reduce the average time for an offside check by 31 seconds. The original plan was to introduce SAOT after one of the autumn international breaks, with October being the likely time frame.
However, during Thursday’s Premier League shareholders’ meeting, it was revealed that SAOT is not yet ready for implementation, raising doubts about whether it will be introduced at all this season.
SAOT eliminates the manual process of placing offside lines on players and pitch level, offering quicker, more accurate decisions. It also provides a better graphical visualization of offside rulings compared to the current method of displaying lines on broadcast cameras.
