The Premier League has brought sports data and technology company Genius Sports to introduce semi-automated offside decisions for its Virtual Assistant Referee (VAR).
As the league’s semi-automated officiating supplier, Genius Sports will build a “first-of-a-kind” system to bring more accuracy and insights to officiating offside decisions during match days.
The key principles Genius Sports will build its technology upon will be speed and precision to minimise lengthy breaks in game, ensuring that the flow of the game is not greatly disturbed and that most importantly of all, that decisions are confirmed with the highest level of accuracy.
The Genius Sports computer vision system will be installed in every Premier League stadium. This level of data collection significantly exceeds any other officiating system in world sport, according to Genius.
Mark Locke, CEO of Genius Sports, said: “I am thrilled that Genius Sports is now the Premier League’s Semi-Automated Officiating supplier.
“This is a seismic moment for our business, as we bring our unique AI and data platform GeniusIQ to the world’s most watched league. This partnership builds on our track-record of delivering game-changing technology for the world’s biggest leagues.”
Last April, Premier League clubs unanimously agreed to introduce semi-automated offside technology to the English top-flight from next season onwards.
Within the statement, the league revealed that it will be officially implemented after one of the autumn international breaks, which fall in either October or November.
There has been much criticism placed upon the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) and its handling of VAR, in particular the technology and decision making behind some offside decisions last season.
The most controversial decision came during the Tottenham Hotspur vs. Liverpool fixture on 30 September 2023. Luis Diaz’s goal, whilst the game was 0–0, was chalked off after a VAR decision.
However, upon hearing the audio discussion by VAR officials, the goal should have ultimately counted and there was no offside involved. Calls for an overhaul of offside technology mounted even further after this match.
Now utilising Genius Sport’s technology, semi-automated offside’s will look to make the decision making for VAR officials easier. The technology has been hailed as a better alternative having been used at the FIFA World Cup and the most recent UEFA European Championships.
Tony Scholes, Premier League Chief Football Officer, stated: “The introduction of semi-automated offside is an important move to maintain the flow of the game in the Premier League.
“We are confident that by using the newest and most accurate technology available we will see the time taken for offside decisions reduced significantly alongside a consistent application of the offside lines.
“The experience for all participants including supporters will also be enhanced through quicker communication and clearer imagery around offside decisions.”
For Genius Sports, the arrangement further strengthens its commercial ties to the Premier League. The London-based company is already the data rights partner of the league via a deal with FootballDataCo, the data rights holder to the English top-flight, English Football League (EFL) and Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL).
