The Premier League has announced “significant progress” in testing the Semi-Automated VAR Offside Technology (SAOT), and there are hopes to have the system in place ahead of the latter part of this season.
SAOT has the potential to cut more than 31 seconds from the average time currently taken to make onfield offside decisions after clubs approved to implement the technology last October. The technology was not ready for the start of the season and a target for implementation after the autumn international breaks was not met.
Speaking on Tuesday, the Premier League’s chief football officer, Tony Scholes, offered an update and reiterated the league’s sensitivity. “We’re in a different situation than we were over Christmas. “We’ve come a long way,” Scholes said. “I’m optimistic we’ll roll out SAOT at some point this season, but we will not do so until we’re completely confident it’s working properly.”
SAOT implementation is an essential step to enhance the efficiency of decision-making and limit controversial delays in the course of matches.
As clubs and fans await its implementation with great excitement, however, the Premier League wants to make sure the system works perfectly ahead of its first use. If implemented successfully, the technology would improve the speed and accuracy of offside calls significantly, making the match a smoother experience for spectators and players alike.
