The Football Association (FA) has announced that semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) will be introduced for the first time this season in the FA Cup and then in the Premier League.
The FA has confirmed that SAOT will be in place for seven of the eight FA Cup fifth-round fixtures.
Preston North End’s clash with Burnley at Deepdale is the only exception due to the absence of Premier League-standard facilities.
English football fans have been clamouring for SAOT, hoping to see a more modernised and accurate officiating framework.
The system uses specialist cameras to track all 22 players to generate real-time offside decisions. SAOT eliminates the prolonged delays of traditional VAR offside checks.
The technology was used at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and is currently being utilised in the Champions League. SAOT has been widely praised for its ability to deliver faster and more accurate decisions.
This FA Cup trial will serve as a crucial litmus test for the Premier League, which has already given unanimous approval for SAOT’s introduction in the 2024/25 season.
If the technology proves successful in the domestic cup setting, it will be a pivotal step towards full-scale implementation in England’s top flight.
Alongside SAOT, the FA confirmed that all eight FA Cup fifth-round ties will also feature Video Assistant Referees (VAR) and in-stadium VAR announcements.
The latter was successfully tested during the League Cup semi-finals and is set to be rolled out across the Premier League next season.
English football has taken a measured approach to adopting officiating technology. However, with increasing scrutiny on the accuracy and speed of refereeing decisions, the push for innovation has never been stronger.
All eyes will be on how well SAOT integrates into the English game and whether it will be the long-term solution to one of football’s most contentious issues.
