In the Supercup between Real Madrid and Eintracht Frankfurt, UEFA will use semi-automatic offside detection for the first time. It should also be used in the Champions League in the future.
At the Supercup in Helsinki between Champions League winner Real Madrid and Europa League winner Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday (08/10/2022), the technology should Video Assistant Referee (VAR) help for the first time.
Thats how it works:
- With artificial intelligence and ten to twelve cameras under the stadium roof, up to 29 points on the skeleton of each player on the pitch are monitored 50 times per second, and of course the ball.
- The data is transmitted to the video assistant. According to the world governing body FIFA, which played a key role in the development, the calculated offside line and the time at which the ball was passed are “available in near real time”. An offside line no longer has to be created – this saves time. The duration of the review was a frequently mentioned criticism of the video assistant.
- The video assistant only has to clarify with the referee whether the offside position is punishable – for example when asking whether the position was passive or whether the ball came from the opponent.
- In addition, the moment the ball is released should be determined more precisely than before.
Goals: Improve game flow, reduce contradictions
“This innovative system will allow VAR teams to determine offside situations faster and more accurately, improving game flow and reducing the inconsistency of decisions.”UEFA chief referee Roberto Rosetti said in a statement.
Tests for semi-automatic offside detection in Düsseldorf
According to UEFA, a total of 188 tests have been carried out since 2020, including all matches of the Champions League, the knockout stages of the women’s Champions League and the entire finals of the women’s European Championship last season. In addition, there were the finals of the Europa League and the Europa Conference League.
“The system is ready for use at official matches and will be implemented at every Champions League venue”, confirmed Rosetti. It is not yet planned to play in the men’s Europa League and Europa Conference League or in the women’s competitions.