Its implementation was discussed this Monday in Doha, during the 136th annual general meeting of the International Board (Ifab), guarantor of football laws.

The "semi-automatic offside" could make its debut at the next World Cup in Qatar, from November 21 to December 18.

What is it about ?

This complement to VAR, video refereeing, is also called “semi-automated offside technology” (SAOT) in English.

However, Pierluigi Collina, president of the FIFA Referees Committee, refuses to use the term "offside robot" or "robot referee".

Indeed, the data will always be transmitted to the VAR and the referee will have the last word.

Hence the use of the word “semi-automatic”.

How it works ?

With 12 cameras which indicate the position of the players on the field, 29 detection points on the limbs of the players and 50 data collected per second or 8.3 million data per match, the former Italian referee said on Monday.

"Offside would no longer be determined by VAR, but by technology based on the data collected," Collina said.

FIFA indicates on its website that this data is then “transmitted to the assistant in charge of offside decisions”, who makes a recommendation to the VAR and the referee on the field.

The images would be communicated "in a few seconds", according to the body which governs international football.

In order to allow the public to better understand the refereeing decisions, 3D animations would then be shown on the stadium screens.

Are we sure to see the SAOT at the Mondial?

No, not yet, even if it seems to be gone.

The technology was first used during the Arab Cup in November and December 2021 in Qatar, then tested again during the Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi last February.

The objective is an optimal use in November, for the Mondial.

If he says he is "confident", Collina did not confirm his presence on Monday for the biggest international football competition, specifying that he would continue "to work" on this new technology.

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