Offside checks in the Premier League will be 30 seconds FASTER from next season because of a major VAR upgrade… Here’s how it works and what you will see on TV

  • The Premier League club has voted for another major rule change
  • The new offside rule will be introduced in the autumn after the international break
  • Which Premier League teams will be relegated this season? Listen to the It all starts podcast

English football will embrace semi-automated offside technology from next season, with the system expected to reduce VAR delays by 30 seconds.

Premier League clubs voted unanimously yesterday to introduce the new system, which has been successfully used in the World Cup, Champions League and other major domestic competitions.

But its arrival will be delayed even further, and is not scheduled until after ‘one of the international autumn holidays’ next season.

Mail Sport understands the delay is as league leaders want to ensure there are no bugs in the system when it is launched.

How will it all work and what will it look like on TV?

The way offside calls are made will change in the Premier League from next season

Semi-automated offside technology will be introduced in a bid to enable officials to make quick decisions and reduce the long waiting times criticized by VAR

Semi-automated offside technology will be introduced in a bid to enable officials to make quick decisions and reduce the long waiting times criticized by VAR

HOW WILL IT WORK?

Twelve cameras have been installed under the roof of the stadium to track 29 data points from the players, allowing for a much more accurate measurement of when a pass is played. If a player is offside, the system sends a warning to the VAR official, who decides whether he is interfering with play.

WHY IS IT NOT READY FOR THE START OF NEXT SEASON?

The Premier League wants to ensure the technology is reliable and would not confirm whether it would be introduced after the September, October or November international break.

The Premier League has not commented on suggestions that they will change suppliers of offside technology, which could be another reason for delay.

Semi-automated offside technology has been used in European club competitions and in other top European competitions, and is now coming to the Premier League

Semi-automated offside technology has been used in European club competitions and in other top European competitions, and is now coming to the Premier League

WILL IT STOP LONG VAR CHECKS?

The top flight has tested the technology extensively this season and concluded that its arrival will reduce stoppages for VAR offside checks by an average of 31 seconds. The current ‘crosshair’ system of lines on a screen remains as a backup.

IS IT MORE ACCURATE?

Yes. Instead of the VAR official deciding when the ball has been played, the new system is faster and more accurate, as we saw in the Champions League and the 2022 World Cup.

It also provides a virtual image of an incident, instead of lines on a still image. However, due to the improved accuracy, even more goals can be ruled out due to fractional ‘toenail’ offside.

Champions LeaguePremier League