VAR offside rulings set to become ‘semi-automated' after Abu Dhabi trial

Pierluigi Collina plays down idea that new technology - being used at Club World Cup- will make assistant referees obsolete

A demonstration of Fifa's semi-automated offside technology in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Fifa

Pierluigi Collina, chairman of Fifa’s referees committee, during a demonstration of Fifa's semi-automated offside technology in Abu Dhabi. Reuters

Fifa's semi-automated offside technology being demonstrated in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Fifa

Fifa's semi-automated offside technology being shown in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Fifa

Fifa's new semi-automated offside technology could become a regular feature soon. Photo: Fifa

Fifa's semi-automated offside technology is being used the at Club world Cup. Photo: Fifa

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - FEBRUARY 09: FIFA Semi-Automated Offside Technology Demonstration as part of the Mohammed Bin Zayed stadium on February 9, 2022 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Harold Cunningham/FIFA)

Fifa's new offside technology is being trialed in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Fifa

Fifa's semi-automated offside technology demonstration in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Fifa

The Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi is being used to trial new technology which Fifa hope will dramatically improve the video assistant referee (VAR) process.

The ruling body have implemented “semi-automated offside technology” during the tournament, with the aim of increasing both speed and accuracy of decision-making.

The system also involves an animation, both for TV viewers and on big screens at the stadium, to provide a clearer impression than the previous method of drawing offside lines over broadcast footage.

“I think, so far, VAR has had a successful implementation in football, but it can still be improved in the area of consistency,” said Pierluigi Collina, the Italian former referee who is now chairman of Fifa’s referees committee.

“We would like to see VAR used in a more consistent manner in different competitions and countries.

“It is also not yet at the very top of the speed of the decision making process. Being fast and being accurate don’t work together.

“It is very important to be accurate and we tell our video match officials to take the time they need, but we are aware of the need to reduce the time, particularly on offside.”

At the Club World Cup, the four-man team of video officials includes an assistant VAR solely devoted to offside, who makes assessments while play is going on.

The operator has a constant view of the offside line throughout the 90 minutes, not solely when a dispute occurs.

The tournament in Abu Dhabi is Fifa’s final trial of the technology in competition before it will likely be used at the World Cup in Qatar later this year.

Fifa's new limb-tracking technology will be used during the Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi this month. All pictures: Fifa

The technology could help end controversial offside decisions forever.

An animated version of events on the pitch created by 10 to 12 cameras that collect up to 29 data points for each player 50 times a second can be accessed seconds after they happen.

It is hoped that the technology will improve upon the current Video Assistant Referee system.

Limb tracking should provide greater resolution and accuracy than VAR to determine whether a goal should be disallowed because a player is offside.

If the system is a success at the Club World Cup, it could be used at the World Cup in Qatar at the end of the year.

According to Sebastian Runge, Fifa’s head of football technology, there are eight dedicated cameras used for a "skeletal tracking" system.

Each player has 18 data points – set to increase to 29 by the time of the World Cup - relaying information about not just where they are on the field, but where their limbs are in relation to each other.

“If we know where the players are and where the ball is, we can in theory detect offside,” Runge said.

“Of course it is more complicated than knowing where a player is because we also need to know where their arms are, where there legs are, when exactly the ball is being played. All of that, the new technology can give us that.

“Most decisions at the moment are being taken by VARs who are drawing lines onto broadcast images.

“We are now moving away from that and taking a decision based on data.”

The new method had its most vivid use so far during Al Ahly’s 2-0 defeat to Palmeiras at Al Nahyan Stadium on Tuesday night.

Mohamed Sharif, the Ahly substitute, saw a goal chalked off after a video review late in the game. The TV audience subsequently saw a video animation of the forward’s position beyond the last defender.

Although Sharif’s case was a clear offside, the animation method is designed to provide greater clarity on borderline decisions than the prevailing method of drawn lines.

The new technology displays a virtual “wall” where the offside line is, and emphasises which body parts are beyond that.

Collina pointed out the animation is only assembled after the decision has been made by the VAR, as a visual aid for spectators.

“The animation is much more conclusive,” Collina said. “You can understand more about the position of players.

“[But] the animation is not related to the decision-making process. It is just a tool to make it clearer to everybody.”

Collina also played down the idea that technology will render on-field officials obsolete.

“The technology is simply a tool used by human beings,” Collina said.

“Messages are sent to the VAR and the [assistant]-VAR. They use this technology, then make the final decision. The on-field and off-field officials are responsible for the final decision being taken.”